Howard County Schools to Restrict Student Personal Device Access

January 31st, 2025

On Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, the Howard County Board of Education approved adjustments to Policy 8080 – Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media, and the Student Code of Conduct that is intended to reduce the use of personal devices by students during the student day. The policy changes will take effect on Monday, March 3, 2025.

While more information will be provided to students, staff and parents/guardians prior to the March 3rd implementation date, here are the highlights of the adjustments that were adopted by the Board:

• No students, PreKindergarten-12, will be permitted to use cell phones and other personal devices during the student day (first bell to last bell of the day) except for reasons detailed in a student’s IEP, 504, or health plan.
• Smart watches will be permitted to be worn to check time but may not be a distraction.
• When a personal device is used in violation of the new policy, the device will be confiscated for the remainder of the student day.
• Students may be in possession of personal devices, but they must be “away and silenced”, meaning devices are not able to be seen by either the student or staff member and are set to make no noise.
• Personal laptops may be used for instructional activities in high school when permitted by the teacher.
• A staff member on a school-sponsored field trip may permit the use of a personal technology device by a student in limited situations where capturing a picture or video may be appropriate or contacting a parent/guardian is necessary.
• School administrators and school administrators’ designees may authorize use of a personal device in rare instances such as an emergency for communication purposes.

More information will be provided related to the expectations and consequences from now through implementation, so students and parents/guardians are fully informed and prepared for policy implementation on March 3, 2025.