Board considers open-enrollment changes, testing opt-outs and smartwatch rules during policy readings

Provo — The Provo School District Board of Education took up multiple policy readings at the Jan. 14 study session, including proposed changes to open-enrollment policy, testing opt-out procedures and an update to student electronic-device restrictions that clarifies smartwatch use.

Nut graf: Staff described edits intended to clarify deadlines and definitions in the open-enrollment policy (for example, defining ‘grade reconfiguration’ and requiring online application submissions), to align testing opt-out forms with state law and to clarify how smartwatches should be treated in elementary, middle and high schools.

On open enrollment, staff said they reorganized language to make deadlines clearer — especially when grade reconfiguration is involved — and added a requirement that applications be completed online. The policy also now clarifies how charter-school closure re-enrollment is handled and adjusts the definition of “available space” so schools and parents have a clearer basis to understand whether an application can be accepted after deadlines.

On student testing (policy 44100), staff said the update reflects a state requirement to ensure students on scholarship or certain program pathways are allowed to test and that staff updated opt-out forms to list the correct current tests.

On electronic devices (policy 42100), staff clarified that cell phones, earbuds and headphones should be stowed during elementary school and that smartwatches may be worn but should be set to a mode that does not send/receive notifications and cannot be used to make calls during the day. Middle and high school language was adjusted to allow smartwatches to be worn but prohibit use that interferes with instruction; schools will retain standard enforcement options for violations.

Each policy is on a reading schedule and will return for a formal vote at a subsequent business meeting; staff said they will fix any date conflicts in procedures and ensure links to the online open-enrollment application are included in the published policy documents.

Ending: Board members asked staff to post the draft changes for public comment and to return with corrected procedure dates and any clarifying language the board requests before the final vote.