Personal Devices Policy

Every student has the right to be educated in a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment.   Every educator has the right to teach in an atmosphere free from disruption and obstacles that impede learning.  

This policy is intended to ensure that personal electronic devices on Williams’ property do not interfere with the learning, safety, and well-being of students and staff.  

For the purposes of this policy, a personal electronic device includes cellular phones, smartphones, earphones, headphones, camera phones, camera devices, video and audio recording devices, digital recording devices, scanning devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), MP3 players, iPods, iPads, tablets, computers, radios, pagers, any device that allows the possessor to access the Internet, or any similar device or any accessories to such devices such as earphones and Bluetooth devices.

1. Personal devices may be used on school grounds before school and after school.
2. Personal devices are prohibited in classrooms, restrooms, and hallways, cafeteria, outdoor spaces, and school offices, unless otherwise stated by a teacher or administrator.
3. During the instructional day (on and off campus), personal devices must remain out of sight (i.e.locker, book bag, teacher’s desk) and turned off.
4. Unless explicitly allowed by a staff member, headphones and other listening devices may only be used before and after school hours.
5. Personal devices (including smart watches) must be turned off and placed in lockers, backpacks, or another location away from students and their desks during tests and assessments.  
6. If students need to place an emergency phone call during the day, they should request to go to the main office to use their personal device or the school phone.
7. Students may be subject to disciplinary action if their use of their personal device disrupts the school’s educational environment. Examples of this include, but are not limited to: cheating, bullying, harassment, unlawful recording or photographing, violating other school rules.
8. The school and its staff are not responsible for any damage to or theft of a student’s personal device. Students must properly secure and take care of their own personal devices.

Interventions and Consequences:

• First offense: The student’s personal device will be turned in by the student and be held in the main office until the end of the school day. Before being allowed to pick up their phone at the end of the day, students must discuss and review the cell phone policy with an admin or staff member.
• Second offense and each offense afterwards: The student’s personal device will be turned in by the student and be held in the main office until the student’s parents are able to come to pick it up AND the student will turn in their personal device to the main office at the beginning of each day AND pick it up at the end of each day.   

Chronic violations and/or refusal to follow the personal device policy is a violation of rule 7 in the CMS Code of Conduct and will result in disciplinary consequences.

 Student Name ______________________________________________

I have read and understand Williams’ Personal Device Policy.   I will adhere to the policy as outlined.  

_____________________________________

(Student’s Signature)

_______________

(Date)  

I have read and understand the Williams’ Personal Device Policy.  I will support Williams’ staff and administrators to implement this policy with fidelity.  

_____________________________________

(Parent’s Signature)

_______________

(Date)  

Sign and return to your Homeroom Teacher by Friday, August 30th.