Policy 491 - Personal Electronic Devices for Students
Adopted on June 26, 2025
Effective July 1, 2025
"Personal electronic devices" means any portable device capable of wireless communication or computing including, but not limited to, cellular phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, and portable gaming systems not provided by a county board of education.
While students may possess personal electronic devices on school property, during after school activities (e.g., extra-curricular activities), and at school-related functions, they must be placed into vibrate or silent mode and stored out of sight during the instructional day except when explicitly authorized by school administration. Personal electronic devices must be stored in the student's assigned locker or in a specially designated storage area for personal electronic devices provided by the school.
The following exemptions shall apply:
- Students with an approved documented need, as required by a medical doctor or licensed healthcare professional or as a requirement of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan, the student’s health care provider’s medical orders, or other written accommodation plan, may have access to personal electronic devices if the device relates to the student's specific need. An exemption related to a student's IEP, 504 plan, medical order, or other written accommodation shall include a timeline of the required exemption and specify what electronic device(s) shall be included in the exemption.
- Students involved in a board-approved work-based learning program may have access to personal electronic devices if the affected program site allows such use for a specific purpose related to that program.
Students found to have violated this policy shall be given the following consequences:
First offense: The student shall surrender the device to a teacher or administrator as requested and the device shall be returned to the student at the end of the instructional day.
Second offense: The student shall surrender the device to a teacher or administrator as requested and the device shall be returned to the parent / guardian during a conference with the parent / guardian at the school.
Third offense: The student shall surrender the device to a teacher or administrator as requested and the device shall be returned to the parent / guardian during a conference with the parent / guardian at the school. The student shall further be prohibited from possessing a personal electronic device at school for the remainder of the current semester.
The Local School Improvement Council (LSIC) of each school shall annually discuss the progress of implementing the county board's personal electronic device policy. The LSIC shall, at a minimum, review the relevant discipline data and make recommendations designed to promote student compliance with the policy.
Each school shall develop and publish protocols regarding how parents/guardians may communicate with their children in a manner that does not distract the student in the learning environment. This may include, but is not limited to, establishing specific times when personal electronic devices are permissible, utilizing office staff to disseminate information from the parent/guardian, or any other applicable strategy designed to minimize disruption during instructional time.
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