Communication Devices in Schools

Policy Development Considerations

• Clearly Define the Purpose of the Policy: Clearly define the purpose for staff, students, families, and the community (e.g. to reduce distractions, support learning, promote safety).

• Gain Community Input and Buy-in: Involve students, families, community and staff in policy development, district resources and implementation guidance.
• Review Associated Policies: Review associated policies and procedures, (e.g. School safety, wellness policies, health education,  student searches, student conduct, student discipline, teacher contracts, parent communication)  
• Communication: Share policy clearly and train staff, students, families, and the community on policies and procedure. 
• Community Education: Educate school communities on cell phone policies and healthy social media and technology use.
• Review: Identify periodic review of the policy based on feedback and technology changes.

Policy Considerations

• Define the Purpose of the Policy: Within the policy clearly define the purpose of the for staff, students, families, and the community (e.g. to reduce distractions, support learning, promote safety).

• Age-Appropriate policies and procedures: Based on input, develop age appropriate policies and procedures for elementary, middle school and high school students. 

• Clear Rules: Define when/where devices can be used and recommendations for storage.
• Exceptions: Allow for exceptions for students with medical conditions (e.g. diabetes glucose tracking, IEP, 504 plans), emergency, or learning needs/accommodations or language proficiencies (e.g. IEP, 504 plans).
• Enforcement: Identify discipline programs with progressive consequences and ensure fairness, consider non-punitive educational components.
• Wellbeing Component: Consider identifying appropriate educational resources for educating students on healthy use of technology and social media.
• Mental Health: Address cyberbullying and promote digital wellness.
• Educational Use: Consider identifying opportunities for phones for learning under supervision.
• Update Associated Policies: Update other policies as needed.

Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB)

• JICJ - Student Use of Cell Phones and Other Personal Technology Device

District

• Adams 12 Five Star Schools - Example of a metro district policy reflecting grades K-12.
• Aspen 1 - Communication from the Superintendent with links to elementary and high school policies
• Colorado Springs 11 - Example of a district policy reflecting grades K-12, and an explanation of why the policy was adopted, including FAQs.
• District 49 - Board policy for cell phones for grades K-12.  
• Douglas County Re 1 - currently collecting input from the community on policy and hosting community meetings
• Jefferson County R-1 - Jun 12, 2025 board discussion about HB25-1135
• Mesa County Valley 51 - Western Slope District Policy for grade K-12 
• Montezuma Cortez RE-1 - Handbook (p.27)
• Poudre RE-1 - Poudre High School Cell Phone Policy

National

• NEA: Sample Policy Limiting Personal Device Use in Schools

Other State

• Ballotpedia — State policies on cellphone use in K-12 public schools - A summary of state laws and policies regulating student cellphone use in public K–12 schools.
• Connecticut State Board of Education — Cell Phone Use Position Statement - A position statement outlining guidance on student cell phone use in schools.
• Iowa Department of Education — Guidance on Cell Phone Use in Schools - State guidance on student cell phone use in school settings.
• State Guidance on Student Cellphone Use in Schools - State-level guidance and considerations related to student cellphone use in school settings.
• Utah Senate Bill 178 (SB0178) — Student Cell Phone Use - State legislation addressing student cell phone use in Utah public schools.

  • (Utah) Canyons School District Policy 500.06 — Student Electronic Devices - District policy governing student use of electronic devices and technology resources.

• Adaptive Tech Resources & Tools for Daily Living 
• CASB Policy Development Resources – helpful for districts aligning local procedures with state law.
• Colorado’s Attorney General School Safety Legal Manual and Guidance
• CDE — Sample Student Technology & Device Policies 
• Colorado Commissioner Dr. Susana Cordova’s chat with Mesa Valley School District Superintendent Dr. Hill about student engagement and the district’s cell phone policy.
• Media Literacy Resource Bank 

• A Community-First Approach to Cellphone Bans | Common Sense Education

• American Diabetes Association® (ADA) Safe at School® Working Group: Information on Students with Diabetes’ Access to Smart Devices

• Book: The Anxious Generation

  • Download the Phone-Free Schools Action Kit – featuring a model bell-to-bell policy from The Anxious Generation Movement, inspired by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt's bestselling book The Anxious Generation. 

  • Watch Jonathan’s talk on how we roll back the phone-based childhood.

• Common Sense Education: Digital Citizenship Curriculum

• Connecticut Department of Education: Personal Technology Use in Schools Survey (updated February 11, 2025)

• Enacted Statewide School Cell Phone Restriction Laws and Policies Guidance for World Languages and Use of Communication Tools: “Novice-Low — My Cell Phone Is an Educational Tool” (Word or PDF)

• Kentucky Department of Education: 2025 Legislative Guidance (page 15)

• New York State: More Learning, Less Scrolling

• The Lancet Regional Health – Europe: School Phone Policies and Their Association With Mental Wellbeing, Phone Use, and Social Media Use (SMART Schools): A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

• Virginia’s Guidance for Cell Phone-Free Education​​​​​​​

• CDC’s “Digital Media and Youth Mental Health” brief (2023) – connects policy work to broader health and safety goals.
• Constant Companion: A Week in the Life of a Young Person's Smartphone Use (2023)
• To ban or not to ban? | UNESCO
• Coming Soon: Phones In Focus