Committee approves student cell-phone policy, orders family outreach and grade-span rules

The Providence School Board policy committee approved a student cell-phone policy that bars student use of personal cell phones "during instructional time" and assigns different implementation by grade span. Chair (speaker 1) moved the measure after committee discussion; the motion passed by voice vote.

District staff member (speaker 3) told the committee that the policy limits student phone access during class but allows use before school and for approved instructional activities. "So we'll be communicating that during instructional time, not being able to access their students' cell phone," the staff member said, adding that the district will provide translated materials and messages via email and ParentSquare.

Committee members pressed for clarity on enforcement and discipline. Committee member (speaker 5) summarized the operational approach: "No phones during instruction time." Staff described a grade-span approach: elementary (preK–5) will collect phones at the start of the day, while middle and high school students (6–12) will be expected to keep phones stored in backpacks or lockers, with teachers providing a designated place in class if a phone must be surrendered.

The committee instructed staff to begin family outreach immediately and to share an implementation plan with principals so schools can prepare before the start of the school year. The approval included an amendment referencing an implementation plan file to be shared with building principals. The committee did not set a specific discipline matrix in the meeting; staff cited existing progressive discipline language included in the packet.

The policy vote was procedural and limited to committee approval for forwarding to board consideration as applicable; the committee recorded the motion and approved it by voice vote. The policy will move forward alongside the district's communication and implementation work.