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Board narrows student personal-device allowances to align with new state law
Summary
The board updated policy JTG to comply with House Bill 2003: teachers may no longer authorize student personal-device use for classroom instruction, Local School Improvement Councils must review device-data, schools must define parent–student communication methods, and signage and handbook language will be updated.
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The Berkeley County Schools Board of Education voted Oct. 6 to revise its personal electronic-device policy (JTG) to comply with recent state legislation.
Doctor Branch presented the revisions and said the changes were driven primarily by House Bill 2003. ‘‘The first is that we had included that teachers were allowed to, have students use personal electronic devices for classwork, but that was not included in the house bill, so we had to take that out,’’ Branch said. The district removed language that had allowed teachers to permit device use for routine classroom activities; use for work-based learning remains addressed separately in the policy.
Other changes required by the law and reflected in the revised policy include a requirement that each school’s Local School Improvement Council review device-use data during the school year; a requirement that schools specify how parents may communicate with students during instructional time; and clearer definitions of when a device must be “off and away” (examples listed in the policy include locker, backpack or a designated area).
Branch said the district will provide signage for schools and revise student handbooks and that principals will set communication methods that best fit each building. The board approved the revised policy; district staff said they will re-communicate the changes to principals and staff at an upcoming principals’ meeting.
