Student Personal Electronic Devices

 

JCDC - Student Personal Electronic Communications Devices

Purpose

The Board of Education recognizes that personal electronic communication devices may create distractions and interfere with student learning, engagement, safety, and positive interpersonal relationships.

The district shall establish procedures governing student possession, storage, and use of personal electronic communication devices in accordance with Kansas law.

Definitions

A personal electronic communication device means a wireless electronic communication device that provides for voice, text, or video communication between two or more parties and is not owned or issued to students by the school district.

Such devices include, but are not limited to:

• Cellular telephones and smartphones;
• Tablets;
• Personal computers;
• Smartwatches;
• Wireless headphones or earbuds;
• Text messaging devices; and
• Other personally owned electronic communication devices.

District-issued devices are not considered personal electronic communication devices when used as authorized by the district.

Student Use

Students shall not use or access personal electronic communication devices during the school day except as permitted by law or this policy.

Personal electronic communication devices shall be turned off and securely stored away from the student's person in an inaccessible location during the school day.

The district's designated storage method shall be established by administrative regulation.

Exceptions

A student may use a personal electronic communication device during the school day when permitted by applicable law, including when:

1. Use is allowed during time associated with a student’s travel to or from a learning experience not located on the school premises, which include: postsecondary educational courses, career technical education courses, work-based learning programs, or other alternative educational opportunity
2. Use is required for implementation of the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan;
3. Use has been approved as medically necessary;
4. Use is authorized for an approved instructional purpose;
5. Use is necessary during an emergency as directed by school personnel; or
6. Another exception is authorized by law or district administration.

Students needing to contact a parent or person acting as parent during the school day shall be provided access to a school telephone or another communication device designated by the school.

School-Sponsored Activities

The requirements of this policy apply to school-sponsored activities occurring during the school day, whether on or off district property. Additional requirements may be established for activities occurring outside the school day.

This includes, but is not limited to: Field trips; Athletic competitions; Academic competitions; Assemblies; Career and technical education activities; Career fairs; College visits; Performances; Community service activities; Conferences and competitions; and Other school-sponsored activities occurring during the school day.

Students shall keep personal electronic communication devices secured in accordance with district procedures unless an exception authorized by law, district policy, or the supervising administrator applies.

Trips Extending Beyond the School Day

When students leave school during the school day to participate in an athletic competition, extracurricular activity, field trip, or other school-sponsored event that extends beyond the regular school day, the requirements of JCDC shall apply during the regular school day.

 

Once the regular school day has ended, the supervising administrator, coach, sponsor, or other designated employee may establish reasonable expectations for student personal electronic communication devices for the remainder of the school-sponsored activity or trip. Expectations will be communicated to the students before departure.

 

After the regular school day has ended, the supervising employee may permit students to possess or use personal electronic communication devices when appropriate for: Communication with parents or guardians; Personal or family communication; Transportation coordination; Safety purposes; Downtime between activities; Other reasonable purposes established by the supervising employee.

 

The supervising employee may establish additional restrictions when necessary to maintain team or group expectations, student safety, supervision, sportsmanship, or the orderly operation of the activity. When students remain under district supervision after the regular school day, the supervising employee may establish expectations for device use during return transportation. Students may be permitted to use personal electronic communication devices during extended return transportation unless the supervising employee determines that restricting use is necessary for safety, supervision, student behavior, or another legitimate school-related purpose.

 

The supervising administrator, teacher, coach, or sponsor may establish additional restrictions regarding personal electronic communication devices when necessary to maintain safety, security, student engagement, or the orderly operation of the activity.

Enforcement

Violations of this policy shall be addressed in accordance with administrative regulations and the district's student discipline procedures.

The superintendent shall establish procedures regarding:

• Device storage;
• Lock box procedures;
• Device access;
• Parent communication;
• Disciplinary consequences;
• Exceptions and accommodations; and
• Procedures for students requiring access to a device.

Liability

To the extent permitted by law, the district shall not be responsible for loss of, theft of, or damage to personal electronic communication devices brought to school by students.

JCDC-R – Student Personal Electronic Communication Devices

Purpose

This regulation establishes procedures for implementing Board Policy JCDC.

Daily Storage Procedure

USD #347 shall utilize district-approved locking storage containers ("lock boxes") for the storage of student personal electronic communication devices.

Students who bring a personal electronic communication device to school shall place the device in the designated lock box at the beginning of the school day or at the time directed by school personnel.

Once placed in the lock box, the device shall remain secured and inaccessible to the student until the designated release time.

School Day

The restriction applies throughout the school day, including:

• Classroom instruction;
• Passing periods;
• Lunch;
• Recess;
• Advisory periods;
• Other instructional periods; and
• Other portions of the school day occurring on school premises.

Student Responsibilities

Students shall:

• Turn off their devices before placing them in the lock box;
• Place devices in the designated storage location;
• Keep devices secured throughout the school day;
• Not attempt to access a device during the school day;
• Not tamper with or damage a lock box; and
• Not remove or access another student's device.

Release of Devices

Devices shall be released according to building procedures at the designated end-of-day release time.

A student shall not receive access to a device during the school day unless an exception authorized by law or district policy applies.

Exceptions and Accommodations

Students with an approved IEP, Section 504 Plan, or medically necessary accommodation shall follow an individualized procedure established by the building principal or designee.

Parent Contact

Students needing to contact a parent or person acting as parent during the school day shall be provided access to a school telephone or another school-designated communication device.

Parents needing to contact a student during the school day should contact the school office.

Violations

The district shall use progressive disciplinary procedures for violations.

First Violation-automatic disqualification from finals exemption (each semester)

Device secured by staff and given to administration.

Parent notification and pick-up of the device.

Student will serve one detention.

 

Second Violation

Device secured by staff and given to administration.

Parent notification and pick-up of the device.

Student will serve one day in-school suspension.

 

Subsequent Violations

Device secured by staff and given to administration.

Parent notification, pick-up of the device, and scheduled meeting regarding school policies.

Student will serve one day out-of-school suspension.

Additional restrictions may be assigned.

 

Any theft of another student’s device is considered a serious offense. Students found to be in possession of another student’s device will immediately lose all phone privileges and be assigned a suspension at minimum. All infractions will be handled at the discretion of administration.

Refusal to Comply

A student's refusal to place a device in the designated storage location or refusal to surrender a device when directed by staff may be considered insubordination.

Emergency Situations

During emergencies, school officials may authorize student access to devices when appropriate.

Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Devices

Students and families are responsible for personal devices brought to school. The district is not responsible for loss, theft, or damage.

GAFB – Employee Electronic Communication with Students

Purpose

The Board recognizes that electronic communication can support instruction, extracurricular activities, athletics, and communication with students and families. Electronic communication shall be conducted in a manner that maintains professional boundaries, protects students, and complies with Kansas law and district expectations.

Social Media Communication

District employees shall not privately or directly communicate with students through personal social media platforms except as specifically permitted by law and district policy.

Employees shall not require students to use a social media platform to complete an assignment or participate in an extracurricular activity.

District-Approved Communication

Employees shall use district-approved communication systems for official school-related electronic communication whenever reasonably available.

Approved systems may include:

• District email;
• District-approved learning management systems;
• District-approved parent/student communication systems;
• Other electronic communication systems approved by the superintendent.

Professional Communication

Electronic communications with students shall:

• Be related to legitimate school business;
• Be professional and appropriate;
• Maintain appropriate employee-student boundaries; and
• Comply with district policies and applicable law.

Employees shall not use electronic communication systems to engage in personal, inappropriate, or unrelated communication with students.

Coaches and Extracurricular Sponsors

Coaches and extracurricular sponsors are subject to the requirements of this policy.

Coaches and sponsors may communicate with students regarding legitimate school-sponsored activities, including:

• Practice schedules;
• Competition schedules;
• Schedule changes;
• Cancellations;
• Transportation information;
• Equipment and uniform reminders;
• Team or activity announcements; and
• Other information directly related to the school-sponsored activity.

When individual communication concerning a student is necessary, employees should use a district-approved communication system whenever reasonably available.

Parent/Guardian Communication

When appropriate, employees should communicate school-related information to parents or guardians through district-approved communication systems.

Sensitive matters involving individual students should be communicated through appropriate district channels rather than personal social media accounts.

Exceptions

Nothing in this policy prohibits communication that is otherwise permitted by law or communication necessary to address an emergency or immediate safety concern.

Administration

The superintendent shall establish procedures identifying approved communication systems and expectations for employee electronic communication with students.

GAFB-R – Employee Electronic Communication Procedures

School-Related Communication

Employees and coaches shall use district-approved communication systems whenever reasonably available for electronic communication with students regarding school-related matters.

Communication shall be limited to legitimate educational, athletic, extracurricular, or school-related purposes.

Coaches and Sponsors

Coaches and sponsors may communicate electronically with students regarding:

• Practice schedules;
• Game and competition information;
• Transportation;
• Cancellations;
• Weather-related changes;
• Equipment;
• Uniforms;
• Team expectations;
• Activity announcements; and
• Other legitimate school-sponsored activity information.

Social Media

Employees and coaches shall not use personal social media accounts to privately or directly communicate with students for school-related purposes.

Employees shall not require students to follow, friend, subscribe to, or otherwise interact with an employee's personal social media account as a condition of participating in a class, team, club, or extracurricular activity.

Direct Communication

Employees should avoid moving a student from an approved school-related communication channel into a personal social media message.

When individual communication is necessary, the employee should use a district-approved communication system whenever reasonably available.

When practical, employees should include a parent/guardian or another appropriate district employee in individual communications involving sensitive student matters.

Sensitive Matters

Individual communications concerning the following should include a parent/guardian or appropriate district administrator when practical:

• Injuries;
• Medical concerns;
• Discipline;
• Eligibility;
• Transportation concerns;
• Behavioral concerns;
• Student safety; or
• Other sensitive matters.

Emergency Communication

Nothing in this regulation prohibits an employee or coach from taking reasonable action during an emergency or other circumstance authorized by law or district policy.

Record Retention

Employees shall use district-approved communication systems in a manner consistent with district record-retention requirements and applicable law.

BOE Approved 8/10/2026