Mobile Devices in Schools

The Roanoke County School Board has adopted a comprehensive mobile device policy to ensure students are focused on learning during instructional time. 

Mobile devices include smartphones, tablets and smart watches.  

Elementary and Middle School: Personal mobile devices are not to be used from the beginning of school to the end of school.  The device must be 'off' (or in airplane mode), kept out of sight at all times, and stored in a personal bag such as a bookbag.  Further, elementary students are not permitted to use personal mobile devices on school buses in the morning or afternoon.

High School: Personal mobile devices must be turned off and stored away (not on the student’s person) during all instructional time. Students may use cell phones only before or after school, during class changes and lunch.

This policy will be strictly enforced and there will be no warnings — consequences will be applied starting with the first offense.

• 1st offense – Student will surrender their personal mobile device(s) to the teacher. Teacher will return student’s personal mobile device(s) at the end of class. Student will be assigned one day of after school detention or silent lunch. Teacher will notify the parent/guardian.
• 2nd offense –Teacher will make an office referral. School administration will suspend the student’s personal mobile device privileges for five (5) school days. Student will be required to check their personal mobile device(s) into the main office upon arriving at school and retrieve their personal mobile device(s) from the main office upon leaving school.  Student will be assigned one day of after school detention or silent lunch. School administration will notify the parent/guardian.
• 3rd offense –Teacher will make an office referral. School administration will suspend the student’s personal mobile device privileges for ten (10) school days. Student will be required to check their personal mobile device(s) into the main office upon arriving at school and retrieve their personal mobile device(s) from the main office upon leaving school. Student will be assigned after school detention or silent lunch. School administration will notify the parent/guardian.
• 4th offense –Teacher will make an office referral. School administration will suspend the student’s personal mobile device privileges for the remainder of the semester (a minimum of 30 days) and contact the parent/guardian for a required parent conference. Student will be required to check their personal mobile device(s) into the main office upon arriving at school and retrieve their personal mobile device(s) from the main office upon leaving school. Student will be assigned after school detention or silent lunch. School administration will notify the parent/guardian and schedule a required parent conference.
• 5th offense –Teacher will make an office referral. School administration will suspend the student’s phone privileges for the remainder of the school year. Student will be required to check their personal mobile device(s) into the main office upon arriving at school and retrieve their personal mobile device(s) from the main office upon leaving school. Additionally, the student will be assigned after school detention or silent lunch. School administration will notify the parent/guardian.

For more, please see this link to the policy:  Policy 6.42a Student Use of Personal Mobile Devices