Per HCPSS Policy:
- Students will keep personal technology devices away and silenced and ensure they are not a distraction during the student day.
- Smart watches may be worn during the student day but may not distract instruction or be used for reasons other than checking the time.
- A staff member on a school-sponsored field trip may permit the use of a personal technology device by a student in limited situations where capturing a picture or video may be appropriate or contacting a parent/guardian is necessary.
- School administrators and school administrators’ designees may authorize use of a personal device in rare instances such as an emergency for communication purposes, and when allowed as described in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), Section 504 Plan, or Health Plan.
- Personal laptops may be used for instructional activities in high school.
Consequences for general violations of policy
- First Incident: The personal technology device is confiscated until the end of the student day. Students should turn off or lock devices prior to confiscation. A device that is confiscated during the final period of the student day will be confiscated for the entire next student day. The student may retrieve the device at the end of the day it was originally confiscated to take home but must provide it to the front office upon arrival on the next student day.
- Second Incident & Beyond: The personal technology device is confiscated until it is retrieved by a parent/guardian. Students should turn off or lock devices prior to confiscation.
Consequences for violations of policy by students who may use personal technology as part of an IEP/504 plan/health plan
- First Incident: A phone call to the student’s parent/guardian.
- Second Incident & Beyond: Required conference between the school administrator and parent/guardian, and level 3 responses aligned to the Student Code of Conduct at the school administrator’s discretion.