Tolleson Union board adopts state-aligned policy limiting student phone use during instruction

The Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board on Aug. 12 adopted policy JICJ, a districtwide policy restricting the use of personal digital communication and electronic devices during instructional time while allowing limited access during passing periods and lunch.

District staff and committee members said the policy implements recent state requirements while preserving flexibility for instruction and for students with identified needs. “If there were to be an emergency…we always have allowed students access to their phones and to use their phones to contact their parents at an appropriate time,” said Derek Follison, who led the district committee that drafted the policy. Follison said the policy specifically restricts phone use during secure- or lockdown-style emergency protocols but allows students to contact caregivers when it is safe to do so.

The policy was presented as a second read after committee and legal review. Supporters at the meeting and in public comment said phones had been a classroom distraction; Gabriela Flores Cabrera, a teacher, said removing phones “is about reclaiming our students’ time, attention, and potential.” Students and parents also asked how the policy would work in emergencies and for students with disabilities; Follison and other staff said the policy allows teachers to use phones for instruction and makes accommodations for students with 504 plans or IEPs who need technology for learning.

Board members discussed the balance between complying with state law and preserving classroom flexibility. Administrators described passages in the new law that allow districts to permit phone use during noninstructional times such as passing periods and lunch, and said the district’s draft gives more flexibility than some neighboring districts. Following the discussion, the board approved the policy by unanimous roll call.

The board and staff said the policy will be monitored in its first year. “We are also open to addendum and adjusting moving forward,” Follison said, adding the district expects a period of “trial and error” and will collect feedback from campuses.

The adopted policy text and committee report are attached to the board packet and available as public records. The board directed staff to implement the policy at the start of the year, provide campus-level guidance, and return with any recommended revisions if operational issues arise.