The purpose of this policy is to create a personal electronic device-free school environment that fosters a positive learning experience free from electronic distractions. By prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices during the school day, this policy aims to provide an environment that enhances focus and engagement, allowing students to develop the college and career-ready skills outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Students will have more opportunities to engage in meaningful interactions, collaborate with peers, and cultivate the essential skills necessary for success in college, careers, and life.
Policy Exemptions
If explicitly required by a student’s IEP, Medical Plan, or 504 plan, the student shall be allowed to access his/her personal electronic device for medically or educationally necessary purposes described and required for administration of the IEP, Medical Plan, or 504 plan.
If the school experiences an emergency situation, the administration may determine that students should be allowed access to their personal electronic device for the purpose of communication with the parent(s).
Policy Non-negotiables
In a national or state testing environment, all personal electronic devices must be powered off and stored away for the student who is testing. Failure to comply with this requirement will be cited as a testing violation and may render all completed tests as invalid.
Electronic devices may not be used in locker rooms, bathrooms, or other locations where the presence of such devices poses an unreasonable risk to the safety, welfare, or privacy of others.
Additional Information
Personal electronic devices may be used while traveling for a field trip or athletic event regardless of the time of day. Personal electronic devices may also be used while traveling to and from school on district provided bus transportation. Students may not use personal electronic devices to access inappropriate material, taking pictures of other students without permission, texting inappropriate information to others, or making inappropriate phone calls while on a field trip, athletic event, or to and from school on a district provided bus transportation.
HCS - Middle School Device Policy
Students who attend an HCS Middle School or Intermediate School MUST have the device powered off and stored in their bookbags during the school day, which is defined as the beginning of the first class and ending when the dismissal bell sounds. These devices include:
Cell phones and all other electronic devices including, but not limited to, air pods, wireless earbuds, handheld gaming devices, etc.
These devices MAY NOT be used or visible and must be turned off once students are dismissed to classes in the morning and remain off and in a clear bookbag until the end of the school day.
Additional information concerning electronic devices includes:
Schools are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged devices.
The administration will not devote time for the search or retrieval of lost or stolen devices.
Students will not be allowed to miss class time to search for a lost or stolen device.
For every cell phone/electronic device violation, the following will apply:
Parent will be contacted.
Cell phones/electronic devices will be confiscated and stored in a secure location until the parent is able to retrieve it.
A parent/guardian must pick up the cell phone/electronic device from the front office after 3:30 pm unless otherwise approved by a member administration.
Disciplinary consequences (Documented and recorded in Review 360 and PowerSchool.
1st violation: Warning
2nd violation: 1 day ISS
3rd violation: 2 days ISS
4th violation: 1 day OSS
5th violation: 3 days OSS
6th violation: 5 days OSS
7th: Evidentiary hearing
If a student refuses to give up their cell phone, electronic device, or Smart Watch the student will receive a referral for (270) Refusal to Obey and the following consequences will apply:
1st violation: 1 day OSS
2nd violation: 1- 3 days OSS
3rd violation: 3 - 5 days OSS
4th violation: Evidentiary hearing
Smart Watches
Smart Watches should be silenced and should function only to access time for the entirety of the school day. When a Smart Watch is used for anything other than accessing time, school staff will confiscate the Smart Watch. The parent will be contacted and:
If the student gives the Smart Watch to the staff member, the staff member will leave the Smart Watch at the office for the student to pick up at the end of the school day.
Other Electronics
Airpods, Beats, Headphones and ear buds should not be worn on the head, neck, or in the ear during the school day until after students exit the building. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in the same consequences as the cell phone policy.
Items that may cause a disruption at school will be taken by school officials and returned to the parent or student at the discretion of the school administration.
ABSOLUTELY NO OUTSIDE DELIVERS ARE PERMITTED FOR STUDENTS. ALL DELIVERS FOR STUDENTS WILL BE RETURNED.
