During its meeting last week, the Provo school board approved a new electronic devices policy governing the use of cellphones, smart watches, earbuds and/or headphones during school hours.

Cellphones and other devices are permitted on campus but their use is restricted for high school students. In the case of middle and elementary school students, they essentially may not be used at all.

Individual schools within the district already had some form of a cellphone policy in place prior to the new rules’ adoption.

This will be the first districtwide policy addressing electronic devices at each school level that not only students but also administrative staff and educators must adhere to.

Rick Bowmer, Associated Press

“I don’t think this is going to be a huge change. It’s just going to be different in the respect that there is an expectation from the district that everybody’s on board with this,” Superintendent Wendy Dau said during the board of education’s Nov. 12 study session meeting.

The policy is the result of a survey the district sent out to parents and students in September and conversations in the months prior to the new school year to gauge how people felt about a potential districtwide electronic device ban.

According to the policy guidelines, students at all grade levels must keep their devices out of sight during school hours and have them set to a mode in which notifications cannot be received.

However, in the case of high school campuses, devices may be used before and after school, during class changes and at lunch.

Provo’s approach is slightly different compared to neighboring Alpine School District, where Pleasant Grove High School leaders have instructed students to place their phones in a pouch upon entering classrooms.

“After getting feedback from students and parents, we decided not to go that route,” school board member Gina Hales told the Daily Herald when reached Tuesday afternoon.

Offenders could be subject to some serious consequences, which include placing their device in a locked container and notifying a student’s parent or guardian about the disciplinary action.

District spokesperson Caleb Price noted part of the enforcement section of the policy stating that students who refuse to comply with the policy could result in escalated consequences, up to suspension or losing the privilege to bring their phone on campus.

There are exceptions for students with specific needs, such as individual education plans, 504 plan accommodations and individual health plans.

The policy also grants permission for students to contact a parent or guardian in the event of an emergency.

“Students must immediately inform a teacher or school administrator if they need to use their cell phone for an emergency situation and follow their school’s rules for such use,” the policy states.

Alternatively, the district is working to ensure office staff are on-hand to field calls from parents or caretakers needing to check their students out of school.

Ultimately, the Provo City School District said its intent is “not to demonize cellphones or technology,” but rather foster ideal learning environments, according to district survey.

Hales said that while the idea was sparked by a letter from Gov. Spencer Cox sent to each school district in the state urging educators to deploy a policy that removes cellphones from the classrooms, the Provo school board feels that this new policy will enhance the educational experience for its student population.

“We didn’t want to do it just because someone told us to do it. We wanted to do it because it’s the best thing for our students,” she said.

Provo City School District’s new electronic device policy goes into effect Jan. 7, 2025.