New cell phone & social media policies

We want to make families aware of two newly adopted policies related to HB 2299, the Cell Phone and Social Media Communication Bill. These policies were reviewed by the Board of Education and approved at the July BOE meeting. 

The first policy is related to student personal electronic devices. Starting July 1, 2026, students will not be allowed to use or access personal electronic devices during the school day while on district property. This includes cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds, tablets, and similar personal devices.

The school day includes class time, lunch, recess, and passing periods. Devices must be powered off and stored in a secure location that students cannot access until the end of the school day. The district is currently working with schools to finalize procedures for how devices will be stored during the school day. We will communicate with families once plans have been finalized. 

The second policy is related to staff communication with students through social media. All USD 261 employees are prohibited from using social media to communicate with students through comments or direct messages. Staff will also not require students to use social media for assignments or official school communication.

Staff may continue to communicate with students using district-approved tools, including district email and approved school platforms such as Bound. Schools and staff may also continue posting public updates on social media about school programs, activities, and events. 

These changes do not impact communication between staff and parents. For example, tools used to communicate with families, such as ClassDojo, may still be used for parent communication.

We know these changes may raise questions, and we have shared a FAQ sheet for your convenience. Our goal is to make sure students, families, and staff have clear expectations before the new school year begins.