3245P - Students and Telecommunication Devices

 

Personal Electronic Devices:

Students will be advised at the beginning of the school year as to proper use of Personal Electronic Devices (PED) on district property.

 

Definitions:

A.  As used in this procedure and Regulation 3245, the term “Disrupting the Learning Environment” means any intentional gesture, any intentional electronic communication or any intentional written, verbal or physical act or statement initiated, occurring, transmitted or received by a student at school that a reasonable person under the circumstance should know and will have the effect of:

a. Insulting, mocking or demeaning a student or group of students causing a substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school; or

b. Creating an intimidating, threatening, hostile or abusive educational environment for a student or group of students through substantially severe, persistent, or pervasive behavior.

B.  Third parties include, but are not limited to, coaches, school volunteers, parents or guardians, school visitors, service contractors, or others engaged in district business or activities that are not directly subject to District control at inter-district and intra-district athletic or co-curricular competitions or other school events.

C.  Sexting means sending, forwarding, displaying, retaining, storing or posting sexually explicit, lewd, indecent or pornographic photographs, images, or messages by or on a cell phone, computer, or other electronic device during school hours or school activities on or off campus; while on school district property, during any recess, lunch or leave periods on or off school district property; or beyond the hours of school operation if the behavior detrimentally affects the personal safety or well-being of school related individuals, the governance, climate or efficient operation of the school, the educational process or experience.

 

Implementation:

Each school includes Regulation 3245 in its student handbook, and the district requires parents and caregivers to review the regulation annually as part of the Enrollment Verification Process (EVP).

A. Elementary School Implementation of Regulation 3245

a. Regulation 3245 establishes the minimum district-wide expectations for student use of Personal Electronic Devices (PED), including cell phones, tablets, smart devices, smartwatches, Bluetooth headphones and other mobile devices. All elementary schools follow these requirements, with PEDs turned off and kept away during the school day and on school buses unless authorized by school personnel.

B. Middle School Implementation of Regulation 3245

a. Regulation 3245 establishes the minimum district-wide expectations for student use of Personal Electronic Devices (PED). Middle schools may adopt additional requirements that are more restrictive than the regulation when developed in partnership with the school community and communicated through school handbooks and other school communications. Middle school requirements are as follows:

School	Personal Electronic Device Expectations
Issaquah Middle School (IMS)	Away for the Day
Maywood Middle School (MMS)	Away for the Day
Cougar Mountain Middle School (CMMS)	Away for the Day
Beaver Lake Middle School (BLMS)	Devices may be accessed for up to 15 minutes during lunch
Pacific Cascade Middle School (PCMS)	Devices may be accessed for up to 15 minutes during lunch
Pine Lake Middle School (PLMS)	Follows Regulation 3245 as written

 

C. High School Implementation of Regulation 3245

a. Regulation 3245 establishes the minimum district-wide expectations for student use of Personal Electronic Devices (PED). High schools meet these requirements, with cell phones and other personal electronic devices silenced and stowed during instructional time unless authorized by school personnel. Students may access devices during designated non-instructional times, which typically include before and after school, passing periods and designated lunch periods.

 

Reporting Structure:

Any student, employee, parent or guardian, or third party who has knowledge of conduct in violation of Regulation 3245, or any student who feels s/he has been a victim of harassment, sexting, menacing, retaliation or reprisal in violation of this policy will immediately report the concerns to the building principal or her/his designee or any district staff member. District staff shall then follow the procedures for incident reporting and complaint processes in applicable District Regulations and Procedures.

 

Investigating:

The principal or designee will be responsible for timely investigation a complaint made under Regulation 3245. The investigation, witness statements and evidence will be documented along with the outcome of the investigation.

In the course of the investigation, administrative staff will not send, receive or unnecessarily view or transmit explicit photographs either with district-issued or their personal electronic devices.  The investigation of such evidence/information will be limited to the extent necessary to determine that misconduct occurred.

 

Parent or Guardian Notification:

Parents and/or guardians of all students identified in the report will be notified of the investigation and informed of their students’ involvement in the incident.