Board approves policy to ban visible student personal devices during instructional day to comply with state law

The Webster Groves School Board voted Aug. 14 to approve board policy JFCD, which implements a state law requiring schools to prohibit students from using or displaying personal communication devices during the instructional day. The law must be in place statewide by Aug. 28.

Superintendent Dr. Parker explained the law during the meeting and said the policy covers a broad definition of "portable device that's used to initiate, receive, store, or view communication, information, images, or data electronically." She told the board, "At a minimum ... the policy shall prohibit students from using or displaying these devices from the beginning until the end of school day," clarifying that the district is interpreting the restriction to apply to the instructional day — including passing time and lunch periods for most grades.

Dr. Parker described several exceptions spelled out in the law and reflected in the policy: a device used in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan, devices needed for health reasons (for example, a diabetes app), or use authorized by a teacher for instructional purposes. She said the district will allow devices to remain on a student's person if not visible — for example in a pocket or backpack — so students can access them in an emergency without returning to a locker.

The superintendent also addressed enforcement and devices taken for distraction: "Confiscated phones will be handed back to students at the end of the day unless it becomes repetitive," she said, adding that repetitive infractions could move to the code of conduct. Dr. Parker said the district is recommending a transition to district‑issued devices "because of cybersecurity, data privacy, and then also the equity and access piece." She added the district will use the coming year to phase implementation so families who already purchased devices are not immediately disadvantaged.

Board members asked how the district will handle communications that now come through a student's phone (for example, parents dropping off items at the high school main office). Dr. Parker said schools are discussing procedures such as having parents email students at the high school and adjusting office workflows where needed.

A motion to approve board policy JFCD as presented passed by voice vote. The transcript records a voice vote—"All those in favor, say aye"—with no opposition or abstentions recorded in the meeting transcript. The board did not record a numeric roll‑call tally in the public portion of the transcript.

Speakers at the meeting emphasized training staff and communicating changes to families before the law's Aug. 28 deadline.