Cell Phone and Social Media Legislation

Students may use or access personal electronic communication devices during school sponsored activities, programs, or events occurring before and after the regular school day, subject to district-approved procedures, event-specific rules, and staff direction.

Schools must restrict student use of and access to cell phones and personal electronic communication devices during the school day. These devices must be turned off and put away. This includes lunch and passing periods. Students can choose to leave devices at home or in their vehicles.

Personal Communication Devices include:

• Mobile Phones
• Tablets
• Personal Computers
• Smartwatches
• Earbuds

To communicate with parents/guardians students will be using a phone provided by the school.

Finally, the rules do not apply during travel to or from off-campus learning. This includes technical school classes, work-based learning and college classes during the school day.

All student personal electronic communication devices shall be powered off and securely stored away from the student's person in an inaccessible location during the school day, unless an exception applies to this requirement as specified in the policy.

Students may choose not to bring personal electronic communication devices to school by leaving such devices at home or in a vehicle, including a vehicle located on school premises. Students will not have the ability to access or use such devices during the school day. Students are encourage to leave any personal electronic communication devices not necessary for the implementation of their IEP or Section 504 accommodation plan, communication during their commute to or from school, for work, or learning experience that is not located on the school premises at home. If students elect to leave devices in their vehicle, students are encouraged to lock their vehicles to protect against theft or damage to the devices.

Violations of this policy shall result in disciplinary action in accordance with the district's student code of conduct. Disciplinary measures may include, but are not limited to, confiscation of the device through the end of the school day, referral to administration for determination of appropriate consequence, parental notification, or other appropriate disciplinary response, up to and including suspension and/or expulsion from school.

Discipline shall be applied in a nondiscriminatory manner and shall not interfere with rights provided under an IEP, 504 plan, or applicable law.

A student may be permitted to use a personal electronic communication during the school day under the following circumstances.

• Required for the implementation of a student's IEP or 504 plan; or
• Approved by a licensed physician as a medical necessity to support the health or well-being of the student.

This new bill regulates communication between any employee of the district and students. Messaging between staff and students will now go through board approved communication systems. These systems must meet each of the following criteria:

• The platform must be owned, licensed or contractually controlled by the school district.
• User accounts are created by and consistently managed by the school district.
• District officials must have access to messages and be able to review any messages that have been sent.
• Parents/Guardians can access the platform.

The superintendent or designee(s) may develop administrative procedures and provide directives necessary to ensure consistent implementation of this policy and any board approved regulations and handbooks across district buildings, so long as such procedures and directives are not in conflict with board approved policy, regulation, or handbook language.

See the entire bill here.