Unionville-Chadds Ford superintendent proposes stricter personal electronic device policy and yearlong task force

Dr. Hoffman, superintendent, presented recommendations April 7 for tightening the district’s personal electronic device policy (Policy 2.37) and creating a yearlong task force to oversee implementation and monitoring.

The proposal would prohibit select personal electronic device use on buses and during the school day at the elementary level; require middle-school devices to be turned off and kept out of sight; and set more nuanced rules at the high school level that would allow devices to be “turned off or in silent mode” with teacher discretion to require devices be placed in a designated location during instructional time. The draft would also “eliminate exceptions for instructional use,” add language allowing lockable pouches for repeat offenders, and tie enforcement to existing discipline levels under Policy 2.18.

Why it matters: administration told the board the recommendations respond to committee findings about consistency of enforcement, developmental differences by age and concerns about social-media-driven attention capture. Dr. Hoffman said the committee’s unanimous “common ground” was to make the district a place “where no student needs to possess [a personal electronic device] to fully access and engage in all aspects of our curriculum or our school experience.” He called consistent implementation and monitoring “the key for any policy.”

Committee process and evidence: Dr. Hoffman described a multi-stakeholder committee that reviewed research, convened student panels and parent groups, and surveyed staff. He said the district briefly re-enforced its existing leveled policy this year and staff reported improvements, but that inconsistent enforcement remained a major problem. The superintendent said administration examined interventions used elsewhere — including lockable “Yonder” pouches — and found mixed results and significant implementation challenges.

Board discussion: Board members praised the committee process and emphasized consistent enforcement. Several board members asked for clarifications about language (for example, whether “school day” needs a precise definition and whether teachers should be able to require phones be turned off rather than silenced). Dr. Hoffman said the draft was intended as a starting point for discussion and that the board would have the policy’s first reading before returning for approval later in the cycle. He proposed a quarterly public reporting cadence from the task force to track implementation and problems.

Exceptions and supports: The draft retains explicit exceptions for individualized education program (IEP) and medical needs, calls for parent and student education about healthy technology habits, and recommends communication improvements — for example, using district-managed platforms (Canvas, email, Chromebook-accessible tools) to reduce families’ perceived need to have phones.

Next steps: Dr. Hoffman said the policy is being presented as a first reading; the board will receive the redlined draft (Policy 2.37) for feedback and the administration expects to return for approval later in the policy cycle. He also proposed forming a personal electronic device task force next school year to monitor consistency, review pilot data (including any lockable-pouch trials) and recommend curriculum or operational changes.

Board members and administration emphasized the policy’s intent is not punitive but to set clear expectations and consistent consequences so enforcement does not vary dramatically by classroom or building.

Ending: The board took no vote on April 7; the item was presented for first reading and discussion, with further refinement and a formal vote expected during the board’s policy cycle.