Skip to main content

JFCK - Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices


JFCK - Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices

 

Purpose

The objective of this policy is to support MSAD 35’s efforts to provide a safe, positive, and productive learning environment for students. While personal devices can be helpful for learning, they can also cause privacy concerns, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, negative mental health impacts, and learning environments where students are less engaged with their school community. Accordingly, the regulation of students’ access to personal electronic devices during school is necessary. 

Policy Statement

Personal electronic devices that are not issued or approved by MSAD 35 shall not be available or accessible to students for the duration of the school day. 

Definitions

  1. “Personal electronic device” means a device that electronically communicates, sends, receives, stores, reproduces, or displays voice and/or text communication, media, or data communication. Examples include but are not limited to: cell phones, tablets, smart watches, and gaming devices. 

  2. “Duration of the school day” means the time from when the first bell rings indicating the start of instructional time, to the dismissal bell at the end of the academic day. The availability of personal electronic devices during after school activities will be allowed at the discretion of the supervising adult.

Implementation of Policy

The Superintendent or their designee shall develop associated rules to govern the implementation of this policy, aligned to the following provisions:

  1. The Superintendent or their designee will put in place mechanisms and/or procedures to ensure that students cannot access personal electronic devices not issued or approved by MSAD 35 until the end of each school day or, if a student leaves the school campus, when that student leaves the building. The Superintendent or their designee will work with school administrators to establish rules and processes for safely storing, locking, or rendering functionally inaccessible any such devices when students enter school, and for making them accessible as students leave school and the care of MSAD 35. 

  2. MSAD 35 is not responsible for the damage, loss, or theft of personal electronic devices that students choose to bring to school.

  3. The Superintendent or their designee shall, in collaboration with staff in each building, ensure that reliable mechanisms are in place to allow reasonable and necessary communication during the school day, including but not limited to: telephone calls and electronic messages sent via technology platforms on devices that are issued or approved by MSAD 35. 

  4. The Superintendent or their designee shall, in collaboration with the Technology Department and other operational staff, put in place processes to ensure students have appropriate access to the technology, content, and materials needed to support educational objectives during the school day.

  5. Administrators may temporarily confiscate any personal electronic device seen or heard in a student’s possession during the school day that is in violation of this policy, and the student will be subject to applicable discipline procedures per policy JK.

  6. Exceptions to this policy will be very limited and only allowed when a student received prior written authorization from a building administrator in accordance with the Superintendent’s rules. In the event that a student is authorized to utilize a personal electronic device at school, the device may not be used in any manner except for the purpose for which it was approved. 



Cross References:

JFCK-R - Student Use of Electronic Devices Procedures

JIH - Questioning and Searches of Students

JICIA - Weapons, Violence, Bullying, and School Safety

JK - Student Discipline



Policy Adopted: December 3, 2025

Back to top