Cell Phone and Personal Device Policy

You may contact the main office, and a staff member will relay the message to your child. For middle and high school students, you can also email your child using their Parkway-provided email address.

In an emergency, staff would allow students to use their personal devices to communicate with families. This ensures student safety while minimizing daily classroom disruptions.

Emergencies are defined in policy as a serious, unexpected, and dangerous situation that requires immediate action, including, but not limited to, immediate safety threats to the school, an active fire, tornado or earthquake, an evacuation of school grounds, or a medical emergency.

Have conversations with your child about the new policy and ensure they are aware of these expectations and the consequences. If you need to reach your child or if there is an emergency, you can call the school office or contact your child using their Parkway-provided email address (middle and high school students).

High School

• First offense: The student's electronic device will be confiscated by the faculty member and turned into the grade-level office. The device can be collected by the student at the end of the school day following a conference with the grade-level administrator. 
• Second Offense: The student's electronic device will be confiscated by the faculty member and turned into the grade-level office. The device can be collected at the end of the day following a conference with the grade-level administrator. The student will continue to turn in their phone to the grade level office at the beginning of each school day for five (5) subsequent school days.
• Third offense: The student's electronic device will be confiscated by the faculty member and turned into the grade-level office. The device can be collected at the end of the day following a conference with the grade-level administrator. The student will continue to turn in their phone to the grade level office at the beginning of each school day for ten (10) subsequent school days.
• Subsequent offenses: Offense may result in more serious consequences and an individualized cell phone plan per the Parkway Student Discipline Policy, JG-R1.BP.

Middle School

• First offense: Confiscation; parent notification;  device returned at end of day
• Second offense: Confiscation; parent pick-up device
• Third offense: Confiscation; parent pick-up device; support plan
• Fourth offense: Confiscation; parent pick-up device; detention or in-school suspension 
• Fifth and Subsequent offenses: Confiscation; parent pick-up device; in-school or principals’ suspension

Elementary School

• First offense: Verbal warning: the student will put the device away 
• Second offense: The device will be sent to the principal's office; the student can pick up the device at the end of the school day and the parent/guardian will be contacted.
• Third offense: The device will be sent to the principal's office; the parent/guardian will need to pick up the device 
• Subsequent offenses: Offense could result in more serious consequences per the Parkway Student Discipline Policy.

We understand that some students may need access to their phones or smartwatches for health-related purposes, such as monitoring health conditions. Please contact your school administration to ensure appropriate accommodations are in place to meet the student’s medical needs.

If a teacher determines that a cell phone or other device is necessary for a specific activity or lesson, they can permit students to use their devices during that time.

Educational purpose is defined in the policy as the use of personal communication devices for academic activities conducted electronically that cannot reasonably be accomplished using a Parkway-issued Chromebook.

Electronic personal communication devices are defined by the law and Parkway policy as any portable device that is used to initiate, receive, store, or view communication, information, images, or data electronically, and include, but are not limited to, cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches. 

• Students are not allowed to use personal technology devices at school, including smartwatches, laptops, iPads and tablets.
• Students are expected to use their Parkway Chromebook at school.

Off and away means we should not see or hear a student's cell phone or device during the school day.

Away means the device is put away inside a student's bag, locker, or other place where it cannot be seen.

Off means the device is either turned off, in airplane mode, or placed in do not disturb mode.