Purpose

The possession and silent use of electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, by school district students when supportive of the educational program of the school district, in compliance with this policy, other school district policies, regulations, rules, and procedures, ISP terms, and local, state, and federal laws, is permitted. However, the possession and use of electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, by students that are found to be disruptive to the educational process and/or environment can be abusive in ways that negatively affect students, employees, and the school district’s mission and environment, and is prohibited in accordance with this policy, other school district policies, regulations, rules and procedures, ISP terms, and local, state, and federal laws.

Definitions

Electronic communication devices are communication devices with voice, data, text, and/or navigation capabilities, that are able to access the Internet, transmit telephone calls, text messages, e-mail messages, instant messages, video communications (such as iChat and Skype), perform word processing and other computer and online applications (apps), and provide location information. The devices are capable of electronically communicating, sending, receiving, storing, recording, reproducing, and/or displaying information and data.

Examples of electronic communication devices include smartphones (iPhone, Blackberry), cellular phones, mobile phones (with recording and/or camera/video and other capabilities and configurations); traditional telephones; pagers; global positional system (GPS) instruments; computers; portable game units; graphic calculators; MP3, music, and media players; PDAs; digital cameras; tablet and laptop computers; and other similar devices. Electronic communication devices may also be referred to as electronic devices in other publications and school district policies.

Electronic communication devices could be devices that are not capable of transmitting telephone communications (such as iPads, radios), do not have Internet access, are lasers, and/or are radar communication devices.

Personal electronic communication devices are electronic communication devices that are owned by the student (or student’s family).

Silent use is the use of electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, that make no sound, are inaudible, and are speechless. Examples of silent use include texting and electronic messaging. No device ringing, ringtones, or sound effects are permitted at any time, unless prior administrator approval is given.

Authority

The Board permits silent use of electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, by school district students during the school day in school district buildings, on school district property, and while students are attending school district-sponsored activities during regular school hours when they are in compliance with this policy, other school district policies, regulations, rules, and procedures, and so long as such use does not interfere with the students’ educational requirements, responsibilities/duties and performance, the rights and education of others, and the operation and services of the school district.[1][2]

Students may use their personal electronic communication devices with the school district’s WiFi service and with the students’ 3G/4G cellular service only if they have written consent from their parent(s)/guardian(s) on a form provided by the school district. The school district will not be responsible for students’ acts conducted through their 3G/4G cellular service. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are responsible for their child’s use of their 3G/4G service. This means that parent(s)/guardian(s) are responsible for their child’s misuse of their personal electronic communication devices or electronic communication devices in violation of this policy, the permission form, and other laws. The school district will register and develop a list of the students’ devices.

Building level administrators, in consultation with the Superintendent and/or designee and in compliance with this policy, other school district policies, regulations, rules, and procedures, are authorized to determine the extent of the use of electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, within their schools, on the school’s property, and/or while students are attending that school’s sponsored activities during regular school hours. For example, use of electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, at the elementary grade level may be different than that at the middle school and/or high school grade levels.

Unless a teacher and/or principal approves use for educational purposes, electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, must be turned off upon entering any instructional area and remain off until the student leaves the instructional area. Instructional areas include, but are not limited to, classrooms, gymnasiums, practice fields, field trip locations, auditoriums, conference rooms, band rooms, and chorus rooms. All uses of electronic communication devices must be done in accordance with written policies issued by the teacher or principal, that are in accordance with the administrative regulations.

In addition, unless they must be used for emergency situations, the electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, must remain off during a school evacuation due to the safety and security of all individuals.

The school district will not be liable for the theft, loss, damage, misuse, or unauthorized use of any personal electronic communication device brought to school by a student. Students are personally and solely responsible for the security of personal electronic communication devices brought to school, school events, or school district property. The school district will not be responsible for restricting, monitoring, or controlling the personal electronic communications of students; however, it reserves the right to do so.

If personal electronic communication devices are loaned to or borrowed and/or misused by nonowners, the owners of the personal electronic communication devices are jointly responsible with the nonowner for the misuse and/or violation of school district policy, regulations, rules, or procedures.

Delegation of Responsibility

The Superintendent is granted the authority to create and enforce regulation(s), rules, procedures, and forms to accompany this policy.

The Superintendent and/or designee shall annually notify students, parents/guardians, employees, and guests about the school district’s electronic communication device policy by posted notices, on the school district’s web site, and/or any other methods.

The Superintendent and/or designee is responsible for training and retraining administrators and employees who are responsible for the use, supervision, discipline, investigation, confiscation, searching, and/or other matters involving students’ electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, use.

Students must comply with this policy, other relevant school district policies, regulations, rules and procedures. Students must comply with the guidelines set by the classroom teacher and/or school district and building level officials for the use of electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices. Students will be held responsible for their conduct in the use of the devices and are subject to the consequences provided in the guidelines section of this policy.[2]

Guidelines

In accordance with this policy, electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, may be used in authorized areas or as determined by the school district administration as follows:

1. For educational or instructional purposes.
    
2. Before and after school, in the cafeteria at lunchtime, on the school district’s bus if authorized by the bus driver, and in the library if authorized by the teacher.
    
3. When the educational, safety, emergency, medical, or security use of the electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, by the student is approved by the building level administrator or designee or the student’s IEP team. In such cases, the student’s use must be supervised by a school district professional.[3]

In accordance with this policy, electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, may not be used in unauthorized areas or as determined by the school district administration as follows:

1. The Board strictly prohibits possession by students on school grounds, at school district-sponsored activities, and on buses or other vehicles provided by the school district, of any non-school district-owned laser pointers, or laser pointer attachments, and any electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, that are hazardous or harmful to students, employees, and the school district. These include, but are not limited to, devices that control/interfere with the operation of the buildings’ systems, facilities and infrastructure, or digital network. No exception or permission may be authorized by the principal or designee, or anyone, for students to possess or use such devices.[4]
    
2. During tests, examinations, and/or assessments, unless the teacher authorizes such use. When electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, are not permitted to be used during tests, examinations, and/or assessments, they must be stored in closed items such as pocketbooks and bookbags, and may not be visible or turned on. For example, they may not be placed on the desktop, table or on an individual’s lap.
    
3. To cheat, engage in unethical conduct, and threaten academic integrity.
    
4. To access and/or view Internet web sites that are blocked by the school district. Examples include, but are not limited to, social media sites, and inappropriate matter as defined in the school district’s acceptable use policy and social media policy.
    
5. To take action that invades the privacy rights of any student or employee, violates the rights of any student or staff member, or harass, threaten, intimidate, bully or cyberbully any student, employee, or guest, or promote or engage in violence. Actions include, but are not limited to, taking an individual’s photo without consent, recording an individual’s voice or image without consent, or storing/accessing personal and/or academic information/data without consent.[5][6][7]
    
6. In locker rooms, bathrooms, dressing rooms, swimming pool areas, and any other changing areas.
    
7. To create, send, share, view, or disseminate sexually explicit, obscene, pornographic, child pornographic, lewd images or video content; such acts may be a crime under state and/or federal law.
    
8. To disrupt the educational and learning environment.

Electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, that violate this policy, other relevant school district policies, regulations, rules, and procedures may be confiscated. The confiscated devices shall not be returned until a conference or phone conference is held with a parent/guardian.

If school officials have reasonable suspicion that this policy, other relevant school district policies, regulations, rules, procedures, and laws are violated by the student’s use of electronic communication devices, including personal electronic communication devices, the devices may be lawfully searched in accordance with the law, and/or the electronic communication devices and personal electronic communication devices may be turned over to law enforcement when warranted.[8]

Students should have no expectation of privacy when using the school district-owned electronic communication devices and when using the school district’s WiFi or other service(s).[2]

When legally required and/or when in the interest of the student, the student’s parent/guardian shall be notified.

If an electronic communication device, including a personal electronic communication device, is suspected of being stolen, it may be turned over to law enforcement.

Disciplinary consequences shall be in accordance with the school district’s policies, regulations, rules, and procedures, including but not limited to student discipline, acceptable use, bullying/cyberbullying, harassment, social media, and other policies.[9][2][5][6][7]

Violations of this policy should be reported to the student’s principal or designee.