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Douglas County schools outline implementation plan for House Bill 340 and draft student-device policy
Summary
District staff briefed the board on House Bill 340 (the distraction-free education act), proposed board policy JCDAF restricting personal device use for K–8 classrooms, and recommended implementing the policy at the start of the 2025–26 school year with progressive discipline and handbook updates.
Chelsea Goodman, assistant superintendent of school improvement and building operations, told the Douglas County School Board on June 16 that the new statewide distraction-free education act (House Bill 340) requires local school systems to adopt policies limiting student access to personal electronic devices in kindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms.
"The purpose of this act is simple, to create a focused, respectful, and academically engaging environment by eliminating unnecessary distractions caused by personal electronic devices, especially cell phones," Goodman said while summarizing the bill's definitions and timeline.
Goodman said key provisions the district will address in elementary and middle school handbooks include notice of no personal devices during instruction, required storage solutions such as lockers or keeping devices in backpacks, and emergency communication protocols already in place. She said the district recommends implementing the policy at the start of the 2025–26 school year to avoid confusion across schools, even though some state deadlines point to an earlier compliance date.
Michelle Bridal, associate superintendent of general administration, presented a draft board policy, JCDAF, for discussion and asked the board to consider approval at the next meeting. Bridal described statutory exceptions in the draft for medical devices, district-provided devices and device use required by Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Section 504 plans.
Board members asked whether the handbook already lists conduct and consequences for device violations. Staff said the handbook currently references cell phones as a minor offense but added that the district is developing progressive-discipline procedures required by state law and will incorporate feedback from elementary and middle principals before publishing handbook updates.
No vote was taken; staff said the draft policy will return for formal approval at the next board meeting. Staff also said communications to parents about the policy and consequences will be shared via social media and direct messages and that administrative procedures will be finalized in the coming weeks.
The board did not take formal action on JCDAF on June 16; staff requested approval at the subsequent meeting and committed to provide progressive-discipline language and handbook text for board review.
