New policy on device-free schools. On June 10, the PPS Board of Education adopted a revised policy on Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices (JFCK). The objective of this policy is to support the district’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.

The updated policy establishes that “personal electronic devices that are not issued by PPS shall not be available or accessible to students for the duration of the school day.” This policy will apply at all grade levels from the start of the 2025-26 school year and includes all personal electronic devices, such as cell phones, smart watches, tablets, and laptops. Here is a brief overview of what students and families can expect in the fall:

• Elementary students will be strongly encouraged to leave all personal electronic devices at home. If they do bring devices, they will have to keep them off and in their cubby.

Students violating these rules will be subject to the school’s behavioral intervention and support protocols, which may include:

1. Requiring parents to pick up the device from school,
2. Not being allowed to bring electronic devices to school and/or
3. Other interventions consistent with the school’s protocols, the nature of the offense, whether or not it is illegal, and the student’s behavioral history.