Personal Communication Device Policy

This Policy will, for many families and students, create a notable change in their habits in communicating back-and-forth. Each school’s front office staff will be the primary point of contact for receiving and sending timely messages.

Our bell-to-bell student policy aligns with recommendations and research that suggests such policies, when enforced, can lead to:

• Improved mental health for students, including mitigating of depression and anxiety
• Improved student attention spans and engagement, protection of instructional time, and positive academic outcomes
• A decrease in the time required to re-focus students after breaks between classes
• Addressing silent scrolling, heads-down, non-eye contact, and a general lack of social interactions among peers which, in turn, can improve school culture, social skills, and emotional wellness. 
• A reduction in discipline issues
• A reduction in cyberbullying and peer-to-peer threats
• An increase in safety during a crisis by reducing noise, distraction, and light while increasing attentiveness and responsiveness, which leads to better situational awareness and less opportunity for misinformation sharing
• Increased teacher job satisfaction and lower stress

Any privately owned electronic device capable of sending or receiving voice, text, image, or video communications; connecting to wireless networks; accessing the internet; or running applications independent of district-issued systems.

This includes, but is not limited to: cell phones, smartwatches, smart glasses, tablets, e-readers, handheld gaming devices with communication capability, wireless earbuds, connected headphones, wearable technology, and any future or emerging technology with similar communication or connectivity functions.

Accessories connected to such devices (including earbuds, headphones, or similar peripherals).

Exceptions may be granted only under the following circumstances:

• Medical or Disability Needs: When documented in an IEP, 504 Plan, or health plan and approved by administration.
• Emergency Situations: An emergency is defined as an immediate and verified threat to health or safety requiring urgent communication that cannot reasonably be addressed through existing school communication systems.
• Instructional Use: Only when required for a specific instructional purpose that cannot reasonably be accomplished using district-issued technology, and when pre-approved in writing by the building principal for a defined purpose and duration.

Students approved for exceptions must comply with all other storage expectations when not actively using the device.

There are multiple reasons for these steps to be taken now:

• State law requires all Colorado school districts to create a cell phone policy by July 1, 2026.
• Beyond the legal requirement, WPS is responding to a growing nationwide concern from parents, educators, and professionals that students are spending too much time on their personal devices, resulting in a negative impact on their educational experience.These primarily fall into the categories of mental health, attention and engagement, and social and emotional wellness. 
• We want students to be fully engaged with learning and with the people around them. A primary goal of this policy can be summed up as “disconnect to reconnect.” We know this improves academic performance, improves school culture, increases safety, and can make notable improvements in student social and emotional wellbeing. We are not "anti-technology" but pro-engagement & pro-wellness.

We are not alone. While restrictions on cell phones and other personal communications devices are a relatively new reality for schools and vary in degree and scope, enough research has emerged to spur schools, districts, and states to take action.

As of the initial publication of this information in May 2026, most states have enacted laws or policies on K-12 classroom or school cellphone usage, with more than two-thirds of them banning or limiting cellphones in classrooms bell-to-bell. Surveys from principals and staff in schools that have already enacted such restrictions show an overwhelming level of support and endorsement for these types of policies. Some of the most common positive effects cited include positive impacts on school climate, a reduction in inappropriate cell phone use, and a reduction in cyberbullying.

This is often the #1 concern of families when facing cell phone restrictions. It may be surprising to know that safety experts and law enforcement are clear in their recommendations: Unrestricted cell phone use during the school day can create additional risks during a crisis. So, while it is understandably reassuring to think that connecting with your student and them with you would be best, the reality suggests the risks outweigh the benefits. We have produced a dedicated safety notice to address these concerns, Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone Non-Use Policy: Emergency Considerations.

Families should be aware that backpacks stored in common areas do not receive special supervision and WPS recommends families consider having students lock backpacks if devices or valuables of any kind are stored in them.

Please review the full text of the Student Policy on the website. Additional questions should be directed to your school’s principal.

Our staff is committed to "walking the talk." Alongside the student policy, we have implemented a Staff Personal Communication Device Use Procedure (GBEE-R2). Our educators and school teams will model disciplined technology use by keeping personal devices silenced and stored out of sight during instructional and supervisory time. This ensures that student learning, engagement, and safety always take precedence. When a personal device is used to support a lesson, staff will "signal" the reason to students to demonstrate how technology can be used as a purposeful tool rather than a distraction. By maintaining this professional presence, our staff reinforces the same healthy habits and focused environment we expect from our students. This collective effort allows us to build a vibrant future where every member of our community can reach their highest potential.