New Personal Electronic Device Policy and Guidance

At minimum, each district’s policy must: 

● Prohibit student use of personal electronic devices during the instructional day. 

● Provide clarity on how devices will be stored during the school day. 

● Allow for exemptions (see specific exemption conditions on page 2 of the Executive Order)

● Provide direction on appropriate responses to policy violations. 

● Be publicly posted and accessible to school staff, students, families, on-site partners, and the Oregon Department of Education.

The executive order aims to help foster student learning, well-being, and belonging by reducing distractions and promoting healthy, focused school environments. It requires school districts to adopt policies that restrict student use of personal electronic devices during the school day, with specific provisions to ensure equitable and supportive implementation. 

The policy will allow for use in the following circumstances: 

● Medical necessity, when use is part of a care or treatment plan ordered by a licensed medical provider. 

● Individualized education plans (IEPs) or Section 504 plans, when use is required for access or accommodation. 

● Approved exemptions, based on District-developed guidelines that allow administrators to consider a student’s individual needs or specific educational outcomes. Families can find the TTSD “Request for Personal Electronic Device Exception” form HERE

For students:

• If you need to contact home, visit the main office or speak with a staff member.

For families:

• Call the main office to reach your child.
• In urgent situations, school staff will facilitate immediate communication.

We’re committed to maintaining open, safe communication pathways.

In emergencies, the District has established safety protocols to ensure student and staff well-being. While it may seem helpful for students to use cell phones during events like lockdowns, doing so can create risks—phones can reveal a student’s location, spread misinformation, or interfere with emergency communication and response efforts.

Staff are trained to communicate with emergency personnel and families. In the event of a crisis, the District will use official channels (calls, emails, texts, website updates) to share accurate information.

For more information about emergency protocols and safety procedures, you can review the TTSD Emergency Response webpage

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure personal electronic devices do not disrupt the learning atmosphere. In the event a student is in violation of the personal electronic device policy, school staff will respond with the following actions:

1. First Violation: The personal electronic device is confiscated and held in the school office for student pick-up at the end of the day. The student must sign that they have read and understand the personal electronic device policy, and parents are notified by the office.
2. Second Violation: The personal electronic device is confiscated and must be picked up by a parent or guardian. Additionally, a level two response, outlined in the TTSD Discipline Framework, will be assigned.  This may include a personal electronic device check-in/check-out plan, family conference, detention, etc.
3. Third Violation: The personal electronic device is confiscated for parent/guardian pick-up, and progressive discipline will apply. This may include multiple level two sanctions outlined in the TTSD Discipline Framework, an extended personal electronic device check-in/check-out plan, and other interventions as needed.

Discipline for the possession or use of a personal electronic device may not include loss of instructional time for the student (such as suspension or expulsion).  However, if the actions taken by a student violate another conduct policy, the student may be subject to discipline up to and including expulsion.

Yes. Staff may use devices for:

• Instructional purposes
• Student safety
• Family communication

Staff will be expected to model responsible and respectful device use.

The executive order applies only during the academic school day. Policies around device use during extracurriculars, after-school programs, athletics, and school-sponsored events will be addressed separately and may vary by activity or setting.

The District is committed to:

• Providing clear, timely information about the new policy
• Supporting students in adjusting to new expectations
• Offering resources on digital wellness and healthy tech habits
• Listening to community feedback and refining implementation plans accordingly