In our district, one of our core values is ‘Students Flourish Here.’ We know that our students will do their best work when they can fully focus and connect with their teachers and classmates without distractions from personal electronic devices like cell phones.
At the start of the school year, one change you’ll see is we are expanding our ‘off and away’ expectations from our secondary schools to district-wide. This means all students, from elementary to high school, will be asked to keep phones and other electronic devices turned off and put away from the start to the end of the school day.
To make this work, we will need the support and teamwork from our staff, students, and families. You can learn more about what this looks like in our schools and see some frequently asked questions by visiting our website, here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will this policy help my student in school?
This policy will help improve the educational environment for all of our students in all of our schools. We’re working to reduce distractions in the classroom so that our students will be more engaged with their classmates and teachers and flourish in our schools.
Is this a new policy?
Creating a cell-phone and distraction free environment has been a focus in our secondary classrooms for some time. Some of our schools have already implemented ‘off and away’ policies. What is new is that Governor Tina Kotek’s executive order, 25-09, titled ‘Personal Electronic Device Policy for School Districts,’ now requires all districts in the state to adopt a consistent, districtwide policy limiting personal electronic devices by students bell-to-bell. This policy will also be in place throughout our elementary schools.
How can I contact my student during the school day in case of an emergency?
If you need to contact your student during the school day, we ask that you call your child’s school in the event of an emergency.
Are there any exemptions to this policy?
Exemptions that would allow a student to use their phones during the school day would require the following types of documentation: medical, 504, IEP, or an extenuating circumstance approved by school administration. All exemptions require appropriate documentation approved by school administration.
Does this policy only apply to cell phones?
This policy applies to all personal electronic devices that are portable and an electrically powered device that is capable of making and receiving calls and text messages and accessing the internet independently from the school’s network. This does not include a laptop computer or other device required to support academic activities, like a google chromebook distributed by the school.
Is my student allowed to use their phone during school at all?
Cell phones and other personal electronic devices should be off and away from the start of the school day to the end of the school day. Our schools will set and communicate clear expectations around arrival, passing periods, and end-of-day routines.
Can my child use their phone during lunch or passing periods?
No. Phones must remain put away during the entire school day. This includes non-instructional time like lunch or other breaks.