Quincy Public Schools

Quincy Public Schools Student Personal Electronic Device Policy

The use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices during the school day negatively impacts student engagement with learning activities and is a common cause of resultant disciplinary interventions. This Quincy Public Schools Student Electronic Device Policy is intended to remove this source of distraction by eliminating the use of personal electronic devices (including, but not limited to, cell phones, tablets, smart watches, earbuds, and headphones) from the start of the school day until dismissal. All Quincy Public Schools students in Grades 4-12 have been issued a Chromebook to be used during instructional time when online access is required.



Download the QPS Device Policy

High School Students

Cell phones and other personal electronic devices may not be used for any purpose from the start of the school day until dismissal.

All cell phones and personal electronic devices must be turned off (not simply on silent or vibrate mode) throughout the duration of the school day.

Cell phones and other personal electronic devices should be placed and locked in the provided pouch upon entry into the school and until dismissal from school. Students are expected to adhere to the process described in Daily Procedures below:

Phone Use Progressive Discipline

Using Phone During the School Day and/or not using Pouch:

• First violation: Office referral, cell phone collected by administration, parents/guardians receive phone call, student must serve two 1-hour office detentions (total 2 hours).
• Second violation: Office referral, cell phone collected by administration, conference must be set up with parents/guardians. The student must serve three 1-hour office detentions and one Saturday detention (total 5 hours). In addition, students may serve a period of social probation as determined by school administration.
• Third violation: Office referral, cell phone collected by administration, a 1-day in-school suspension, one Saturday detention and will be placed on phone probation. In addition, students may serve a period of social probation as determined by school administration.
• Chronic violations: Office referral, cell phone collected by administration, a multi-day suspension (in-school and/or out-of-school) and placed on both social and phone probation for a duration determined by the principal.
• Use of Access-Enabling Devices/Tools: Office referral, device collected by administration. Students found to be using an electronic device to evade the school’s electronic device or pouch procedures will be subject to elevated consequences. Students with no prior violations will be disciplined in accordance with the third violation level and students with one or more prior violations will be disciplined in accordance with chronic violations.

Additional Guidelines

As devices are to be powered off, placed in pouches, and out of sight during the school day, we ask parents/guardians not to call/text students on their cell phones during the school day.

In the case of an emergency while a student is in class, please call the school’s main office. The student will be notified immediately and will be allowed to speak with the parent/guardian; privacy can be provided to the student as needed. If a student needs to contact their parents/guardians, they will be permitted to call from the main office.

Although the school responds quickly and with serious discipline in cases of theft, including reports made to the police when deemed necessary, the school is not responsible for replacing lost, stolen, or damaged cell phones or electronic devices, whether confiscated or not. In addition, the school discourages students from bringing electronic devices to school.

Middle School Students (Grades 6-8)

For middle school students, cell phones and other personal electronic devices should be turned off and safely secured in a pouch and placed in a locker or backpack during the school day.

Cell phones and other personal electronic devices may not be used for any purpose from the start of the school day until dismissal.

All cell phones and personal electronic devices must be turned off (not simply on silent or vibrate mode) throughout the duration of the school day.

Cell phones and other personal electronic devices should be placed and locked in the provided pouch upon entry into the school and until dismissal from school. Students are expected to adhere to the process described in Daily Procedures below

Discipline

Students who do not comply with the terms of the Policy will be subject to progressive discipline as follows:

• First offense: The student will be required to turn over their personal electronic device(s) in the main office. The device(s) will be returned to the student at the end of the school day.
• Second offense: The student will be required to turn over their personal electronic device(s) in the main office. The student’s parent/guardian will be called and the device(s) will be returned to the parent/guardian.
• Third offense: Same as the second offense above. In addition, the student will be prohibited from bringing any personal electronic devices to school for the remainder of the school year.

Students committing repeated violations of this policy and/or found to be using Access-Enabling Devices/Tools may be subject to additional disciplinary actions, consistent with the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook.

Additional Guidelines

As devices are to be powered off, placed in pouches, and out of sight during the school day, we ask parents/guardians not to call/text students on their cell phones during the school day.

In the case of an emergency while a student is in class, please call the school’s main office. The student will be notified immediately and will be allowed to speak with the parent/guardian; privacy can be provided to the student as needed. If a student needs to contact their parents/guardians, they will be permitted to call from the main office.

Although the school responds quickly and with serious discipline in cases of theft, including reports made to the police when deemed necessary, the school is not responsible for replacing lost, stolen, or damaged cell phones or electronic devices, whether confiscated or not. In addition, the school discourages students from bringing electronic devices to school.

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