By Shannon Lukens.
No cell phones in the classroom starting Monday, Jan. 6, in the Hayden School District. This is for kids in grades six through 12. Superintendent Eric Owen says the Board of Education has taken active steps to intentionally prioritize student learning during class time and “it was identified that eliminating the distraction to students of use of their personal electronic devices was an important step toward that goal.” Hayden students will turn in their personal electronic devices when they enter a classroom, with notifications off, and they can pick up their phones when they leave class. They are allowed to use phones in between periods and at lunch.
If there is an emergency during class, the teacher will allow the kids to communicate with their family. If a parent or guardian needs to reach the student, parents can contact the school and the student will be notified and can leave class to take the call.
The specific policy and details are listed below, as are the Cell Phone policies for Moffat County, Steamboat Springs, and SoRoCo school districts.
Here is the policy from the Hayden School District; December 2024.
JICJ – STUDENT USE OF CELL PHONES AND OTHER PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES
The Board of Education believes that personal electronic devices can play a vital communication role during emergency situations. However, possession and use of personal electronic devices in school situations must be regulated to ensure that the use or presence of such devices does not disrupt or interfere with the educational process or school operations, or impair the safety, welfare, and privacy of students and staff. Therefore, in order to create engaging spaces in the educational environment that fosters sustained attention and maximizes learning, students may only use personal electronic devices on District property, in a District vehicle, or at a District or school-sponsored activity or event in accordance with this policy.
For purposes of this policy, “personal electronic devices” include any privately-owned portable technology device including but not limited to cell phones, a smart-watches, tablets, laptops, Chromebooks, virtual reality devices, wireless earbuds/earphones, cameras, audio and/or video recorders and players, and any other hand-held electronic communication, data storage, or gaming devices.
Device Use:
Student use of personal electronic devices shall be as follows:
- Students in grades PreK – 5 are prohibited from using personal electronic devices on school premises during the designated school day. The exception allowed for grades PreK-5 are student watches providing location information for parents during the school day. Communication functions with the exception of providing the child’s location need to be turned off during the school day. The school day includes but is not limited to instructional time, lunch periods, recess, school-sponsored programs, events or activities, or any other time during the designated school day. All personal electronic devices shall be kept in student backpacks, with the exception of “location devices”, and turned off from the start to end of the school day.
- Students in grades 6 – 12 are prohibited from using personal electronic devices during instructional time. Instructional time includes the entire period of a scheduled class and other times when students are directed to report to and participate in any instructional activity. All personal electronic devices shall be kept in designated areas and turned off during instructional time. Personal electronic devices may be used during passing times and lunch periods.
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that personal electronic devices are turned off and placed in designated areas during times when use is not authorized. Personal electronic devices (1) that produce any audible sound, visible notification, a ring tone, or vibrating alert, whether through a speaker, earbuds/earphones, buzzer, or other means, or (2) that are displayed or in plain view at such times shall be deemed to be used in violation of this policy.
Regardless of the permitted uses or limitations placed on the use of personal electronic devices, the following conduct is prohibited:
- To engage in, promote, or facilitate any conduct that otherwise violates the Code of Student Conduct or other Board policies or regulations, or state or federal law.
- To act in any manner that causes or results in disruption of the educational environment or school sponsored extracurricular activities or events, or impairs or interferes with school or District operations;
- To photograph or record the activities of other students or school personnel on District property or at school or school-sponsored activities, or to disseminate to others such photographs or recordings, in a manner intended to cause or result in, or in a manner the student using the device should reasonably have foreseen would cause or result in, emotional distress, embarrassment or humiliation of a person, or an invasion or violation of any person’s reasonable expectation of privacy.
- Use of personal electronic devices in locker rooms, bathrooms, or other locations where the presence of such devices poses an unreasonable risk to the safety, welfare, or privacy of other persons, as determined by the building principal.
- When their use is otherwise prohibited by this policy or by school rules. The principal may, at their discretion, establish and enforce additional rules for the use of personal electronic devices appropriate to individual campus needs. School officials are expected to set guidelines for the use of such devices during school trips and extracurricular activities.
Exceptions
Students may possess and use personal electronic devices during instructional time or when otherwise prohibited, under the following circumstances:
- When specifically authorized under a current individual education plan (IEP), a Section 504 accommodation plan, or multilingual learner plan, until the District acquires the proper devices to meet students’ needs.
- A health care plan in force and effect regarding the student approved by the School Nurse
- The use is necessary to respond to or report an emergency. For purposes of this policy, “emergency” shall mean an actual or imminent threat to the health or safety of students and/or school personnel, which may result in death, bodily injury, or property damage.
Violations
Students violating the policy shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension and expulsion. Personal electronic devices that are reasonably suspected of being used or possessed in violation of this Policy shall be subject to temporary confiscation by school authorities. Students shall be required to turn personal electronic devices over to any teacher or other school official upon request. Students who refuse to surrender a personal electronic device upon request by a teacher or other school official shall be subject to disciplinary action.
Loss or Damage
The District shall not be responsible for the loss, theft, or destruction of personal electronic devices brought onto school, or District property, or while the student is attending District or school-sponsored activities or events.
Access to District Wireless Network
Student personal electronic devices will not have access to the District’s wireless network unless authorized to do so by Exceptions 1 & 2 as listed above.
LEGAL REF.:
C.R.S. 18-7-109 (Posting, possession, or exchange of a private image by a juvenile)
CROSS REFS.:
JIC, Student Conduct
JICDA, Code of Conduct
JK, Student Discipline
JS, Student Use of Technology Resources
The Steamboat Springs School District does not allow cell phones during class unless specifically approved by the teacher for instructional purposes only. From the Steamboat Springs High School 2024-2025 Student Information Handbook:
“Cell Phone and Electronic Devices Policy Electronic communication devices may be used during non-instructional time throughout the school day (for example: before and after school, during break, and lunch). The use of electronic communication devices in the classroom is not allowed unless specifically approved by the classroom teacher for instructional purposes only. It is the student’s responsibility to follow all teacher expectations. Unauthorized use of electronic devices will result in the following consequences.
Procedures:
1. 1st Violation: Student may pick up from teacher at the end of period
2. 2nd Violation: Student may pick up after school from Attendance Secretary
3. 3rd Violation: Parent may pick up after school from Attendance Secretary
4. 4th Violation: Parent may pick up and consequence will be assigned by Assistant Principal.”
The 2024-2025 Student Handbook for Moffat County High School says students can have their electronic devices during the school day but they need to be off and out of sight while in the classroom.
Moffat County Student and Parent Handbook — Student Use or Personal Electronic Devices
Only authorized electronic devices may be used by students connecting to district resources. Student use of personal devices is a privilege, not a right. Students can have their electronic devices on their persons throughout the school day. Students’ electronic devices need to be off and out of sight while in an educational classroom setting. Devices may be used to listen to music during individual work time if teacher permitted. MCSD is not responsible for lost, stolen, or broken items if the student brings electronic devices to school. The only permitted electronic device will be the school-issued iPad and/or the classroom desktop computer used for educational purposes.
Electronic devices may be utilized during passing periods and lunch; if this responsibility is abused, administration will deal with this issue. Electronic devices are strictly prohibited in locker rooms, changing rooms, restrooms, shower facilities and/or spaces deemed as private.
- First offense: device is taken by staff, returned to the student after class.
- Second offense: device is sent to the office, returned to the student after school.
- Third and any subsequent offense: device is sent to the office, parent/guardian needs to be picked up from administrator and detention may be assigned by the teacher(any subsequent offense will result in ISS) and an individual behavior plan will be created.
Electronic violations records are accumulated throughout the entire school year. Moffat County High School is not responsible for devices that are lost, damaged or stolen and strongly suggest not bringing them to school.
The 2024-2025 SoRoCo Ram Student Handbook for Middle School and High School says cell phones used during class are at the discretion of the teacher for instructional purposes only.
CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES
• Cell phone use during class will be at the discretion of the teacher for instructional purposes only. The use of cell phones for taking unauthorized pictures and video is strictly prohibited.
• By state law, cell phones are not to be turned on in areas where privacy may be compromised such as the bathrooms and locker rooms.
• Teachers may authorize cell phone use in the classroom for academic purposes.
• All students will receive a district-issued ChromeBook, to be used within the SRSD Acceptable Use policy.
• Teacher will ask the student to put their phone away, if they have it out during unauthorized time in the classroom. After the second time, the teacher will ask the student for their phone and keep it until the end of the hour. After the third time, the teacher will turn the phone into the principal until the end of the day. The principal will then call and or meet with the student and parent/guardian to discuss the cell phone issue.