2022-2023 Quail Hollow Middle School (QHMS)

Personal Technology Use Guidelines

Definition of “Personal Technology Devices”

For the purpose of this document, “Personal Technology Devices” includes all technology devices beyond a school-issued Chromebook, excluding devices that are documented as part of a student’s 504 Plan or IEP to support documented learning needs. Personal Technology Devices include but are not limited to cell phones (with or without service), music players, speakers, gaming devices, etc.

Headphones/earbuds worn outside teacher-condoned instructional experiences follow the same guidelines as other “Personal Technology Devices.”

Devices worn on the wrist such as Fitbits and Apple Watches are permitted as long as they do not produce noise and are not used for communication purposes when at school.

Purpose of the Policy

The purpose of school is to learn. We want students to use technology to support their learning. We are committed to limiting distractions from the educational environment to support learning. We are also committed to teaching students that they are able to function as whole people without the use of personal technology devices.

Expectations

Chromebooks are provided by the school to all students to ensure students have technology to support their learning. CMS-owned Chromebooks ensure students are connected to a filtered internet network to ensure safe access while at school. Teachers are trained to support learning on Chromebooks and can provide consistent directions for students to use school-issued Chromebooks. Should damage occur to a school-issued device while in use at school, the school has the resources to repair or replace a school-issued device.

School-issued Chromebooks allow students to do anything they need to do to support learning during the school day. This includes watching videos and listening to music when it is permitted by the teacher to support learning.

Personal Technology Devices may not be seen or heard by school staff during the school day from the time students enter the school until the time the announcement is made to begin the afternoon dismissal procedure (approximately 4:10). The only exceptions are 1) the use of a Personal Technology Device to display a meal number barcode in the Cafeteria when directed by school staff to do so, and 2) the use of headphones or earbuds for instructional purposes when directed by school staff to do so.

We understand that students may need to have devices with them so they are able to communicate with parents and guardians before and after school hours. Devices should simply be turned off and stored in a bag during the scheduled school day. If a family is uncomfortable with a device being left in a student’s bag, the device should not be brought to school.

Parents/guardians should call the school at 980-343-3620 should they need to relay an urgent message to their child during the school day. If a parent/guardian needs to communicate with a student about their afternoon dismissal plans, parents/guardians may communicate to their student’s Personal Technology Device, knowing the student will be able to check messages at the start of the dismissal procedure (approximately 4:10). Please be aware that if you have set an emergency bypass on your student’s phone these rules still apply, please don’t text or call them prior to 4:10.

If a student has an emergency and needs to communicate with a parent/guardian (for example, calling home from the nurse’s office), a staff member may give permission to a student to take out their Personal Technology Device to contact their parent under the staff member’s supervision.

Consequences

Notes:

● All confiscated devices will be submitted to a school office for safe keeping and documentation.

● Should a student refuse to give the device to the staff member who saw it or heard it, the incident will be treated as “insubordination,” in addition to consequences being assigned (as outlined below) for use of a Personal Technology Device during school hours.

● We understand that some students need their devices at home to support communication with family members after school. For this reason, we strongly urge students to comply with the policy so their devices do not need to be held overnight in the front office.

1st Offense: The device will be taken by the staff member who sees or hears it and returned at the end of class. Teacher will document in Kickboard as a technology use violation and the student will lose a point.

2nd Offense: The device will be taken by the staff member who sees or hears it and returned by school staff at the end of the school day. Teacher will document in Kickboard as a technology use violation and the student will lose a point. Parent/guardian will be notified.

3rd+ Offense: The device will be taken by the staff member who sees or hears it and returned by school staff at the end of the school. The student will be assigned a school based consequence. Teacher will document in Kickboard as a technology use violation and the student will lose a point. Parent/guardian will be notified.