By Stephen Smoot
One of the biggest headaches for teachers in the modern classroom comes in the form of student possession of cellular phones or other electronic devices, but that will change as of this coming school year.
House Bill 2003 passed the West Virginia State Legislature last spring and Governor Patrick Morrisey signed the bill into law on April 29. The original version of the bill sought to establish restrictions and allowances, but changed significantly before final passage. The stated purpose of the bill shares that “personal electronic devices contribute to a negative classroom environment with increased concerns related to distractions, academic misconduct, bullying and/or harassment, and other inappropriate behaviors.”
Legislators avoided establishing a single state standard, understanding that local Boards may favor different approaches to the same result. The same act reads “County boards of education shall develop a policy that includes, but is not limited to, the requirements established in this policy for implementation at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.”
The rest of the act established guidelines and expectations for the county level policies while still allowing flexibility.
Harrison County Schools currently has the local proposed policy available for public review and comment.
The document, available on the HCS website, opens with definitions of instructional time, non instructional time, and personal electronic devices. Also referred to as PEDs, these include cellular phones, earbuds, headphones, smart watches and other wearable technology, tablets, laptops, e-readers, and gaming devices. The public has until Aug 15 at 4:15 p.m. to offer comments.
“All personal electronic devices (PEDs) shall not be accessible to students for use in a classroom setting,” reads the policy at its opening. Further down, it explicitly states that “students are permitted to have PEDs on school property” but “during the instructional day, PEDs will be stored in the student’s locker.”
Students that have a “specific need,” documented by a physician, an Individual Education Plan, or some other requirement for accommodation may get a waiver to carry and use the device for that specified need. “Approved work-based learning programs” may also use them for specific educational needs.
PEDs must remain out of use while students are being transported. Also, students may possess phones during extracurricular activities, but in silent or off mode. Coaches and group sponsors of extracurricular activities can regulate further if needed.
The policy also contains the different steps of discipline for violations of the policy and also repeat offenses. Should a PED be used for illegal purposes, the matter will go into the hands of law enforcement.
Finally, the policy also requires communication of it to students and parents or guardians.
