Students returning to school next week from the holidays — many likely with new cell phones, earbuds, smart watches and e-readers received as gifts in tow — may want to take a moment to check out the rules on when they can use them.
Several major Johnson County school districts have recently rewritten or clarified restrictions on personal electronic devices and their use during school hours.
Blue Valley, Olathe and Gardner-Edgerton districts have new regulations that have only been in effect since the beginning of the current school year.
Meanwhile, the Shawnee Mission Board of Education will vote on the school district’s new proposed policy Jan. 13, with an eye toward implementing it in February.
USD 232 in De Soto, as well as Spring Hill schools also made recent modifications dating back to 2022.
Rewriting rules for devices became a trend this year as parents and teachers have concerns that cellphones are becoming a detriment to learning, socialization and mental health.
Some parents have gone so far as to advocate for phones to be banned or locked away for entire school days, while others have asked for schools to allow their use in order to communicate with parents during emergencies or non-class time.
Many of the new policies take a hybrid approach based on grade level, relaxing rules around access to devices for older students. Here’s a rundown on the various policies:
Olathe Public Schools
Olathe Public Schools have had a smooth initiation of the district’s new cellphone policy enacted this year, according to a recent update provided by building administrators.
- Under Olathe’s policy, students of any age can keep their phones in backpacks, lockers or “on their person” as long as the devices are not visible during the school day.
- Phones cannot be used during school hours by elementary and middle schoolers.
- However, high school students are allowed to access their phones during non-instructional activities like lunch, passing periods or an authorized pass. They may not use them during class time unless a teacher approves it.
Shawnee Mission School District
School board members have been studying policy on electronics since the school year began in August.
However, the board wanted a little more time to finalize the proposed rules when they discussed it at their December meeting. The board is expected to take up the issue again Jan. 13.
Under discussion is a grade level-based policy in three tiers:
- Elementary and pre-K students would leave muted devices in backpacks or storage bags for the entire school day.
- Middle school students would also have to store their silenced devices during class time but could access them during passing periods.
- High school students would have to store the devices, except for smart watches, during instructional time but could use them during passing periods and lunch.
The policy’s final form would need to be approved for it to be enacted in February. The disciplinary consequences for violations are still under consideration.
Blue Valley Schools
The district implemented a new electronics policy for this school year that says it wants to provide a learning environment while also promoting “digital wellness and readiness for the future.”
Grade level rules for Blue Valley are:
- Elementary school students must keep their devices silenced and stowed away.
- Middle schoolers must also store their electronics from the beginning to the end of the school day, 7:51 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- High school students may not use devices from the opening to the closing bell of each class, but can use them between classes and during lunch. Use in the restrooms is prohibited.
USD 232 in De Soto
This district also takes an age-based approach.
- Elementary students mobile devices are not allowed.
- Middle schoolers must keep them in the locker during the school day
- High school students may use personal electronic devices during passing periods or lunch. They are not allowed during class time and must be in a backpack, pocket or teacher-approved location and not visible.
More information about USD 232’s approach can be found in the student handbook.
Gardner-Edgerton Unified School District 231
Gardner-Edgerton’s policy is to prohibit phone use during instructional time. For high school students, this means class time and seminar.
However, devices may be used before and after school, during passing periods or at lunchtime. Use in restrooms is prohibited.
Spring Hill Schools
Electronic devices must be in lockers or backpacks during class when not in approved classroom use, but they can be used when approved by a classroom teacher, according to Spring Hill policy.
Students may use them before and after school, during passing periods and lunch as long as they don’t interfere with the school learning environment.
