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Wake County Board adopts policy 43‑18 on student personal wireless devices to comply with state law
Summary
The board adopted revised policy 43‑18 on Dec. 2, changing the requirement from "silenced" to "off and put away," adding smart‑glasses language, and exempting district‑issued instructional devices; the motion passed on second reading.
The Wake County Board of Education voted on Dec. 2 to adopt board policy 43‑18, which governs student use of personal wireless communication devices. The revised policy updates language to comply with state legislation and clarifies when and how devices may be used in schools.
Dr. Crane presented the second reading, saying revisions were recommended by the North Carolina School Boards Association and staff and that changes were minor. The primary substantive change reported was replacing the district’s earlier language requiring devices to be silenced with a requirement that they be “off and put away” to align with state law. The policy also explicitly updates references to devices — including smartwatches and smart glasses — and states that any wireless communication features on those devices must be turned off during restricted times. District‑issued and managed devices or personal laptops used exclusively for approved instructional purposes are exempt from the prohibition, consistent with policy 32‑25 (technology responsible use). High‑school classrooms may allow instructional device use with prior teacher authorization.
Policy chair Miss Edmonds moved to adopt 43‑18 on second reading; Miss Gordon seconded the motion. After a period for questions and clarification from board members about assistive devices and security camera use, the board voted in favor and the chair announced that the policy passed.
Why it matters: The policy change governs everyday classroom and campus behavior and was presented as necessary to comply with state law. It clarifies permitted instructional uses at the high school level and preserves accommodations for students who rely on assistive technology.
Key clarifications extracted from the meeting record: the policy requires personal devices to be turned off and put away during restricted times (not applicable to district-managed instructional devices); smart glasses are addressed and must have wireless features turned off; authorized staff may permit device use for legitimate academic or safety reasons; and no permission is required to call 911.
Next steps: The policy takes effect upon adoption; school principals will implement the local operational details and ensure staff are informed about exceptions and instructional‑use procedures.
Provenance: based on the policy presentation and second‑reading motion and vote recorded during the Dec. 2 meeting.
