Greenwich Public Schools Cellphone Rules For 2024-2025: What To Know

Information via Greenwich Public Schools

GREENWICH, CT — Ahead of the new school year which begins on Aug. 30, Greenwich Public Schools has issued an update on cellphone and electronic device usage regulations for students.

"Many families with children at Greenwich Public Schools have concerns about the effects of early and excessive cellphone and social media usage," the district said in a recent newsletter. "We have heard your concerns and met with some of our school community leaders on this topic during the summer months. We are extremely grateful to partner with our families, continuing the conversation, and improving the lives of our students."

Elementary School, K-5

Parents are encouraged to not send their children to school with cellphones.

"There are ample phones available at the school site for parents to get in touch with the school, or the student to call home," the school district said. "If you feel there is a safety need given unique circumstances, such as walking a long distance to or from school each day, then the phones must be off and away in lockers or backpacks for the duration of the school day."

Middle School, Grades 6-8

Similar to the elementary level, there should be no phone usage during the school day, and parents are being asked to delay the purchase of cellphone products as students enter middle school.

If phones are brought to school, they must be turned off and stored in a backpack or locker, the school district said.

"There should be zero cellphone usage during passing time, lunch, or during instructional blocks. Students may request permission from their teacher or staff member to utilize a phone for taking pictures of notes on the board or other learning strategies, but only with permission for appropriate use," the school district noted.

For safety reasons in unique circumstances, students may have phones but they must be off and stored away.

Wearable technology, such as Apple Watches, Fitbits or any other similar device, should be left home in grades K-8, but students may have them for safety needs. The devices should be off and stored.

If there is a medical reason the student needs to wear a device, parents should meet with administration/school nurse to discuss.

"Examples of this include a student who wears a monitoring device for their heart, blood sugar regulation, insulin dependency, or other critical wearable. If the device requires the use of a cellphone, an implementation plan should be put in place along with the approval of the wearable," the school district said.

High School, Grades 9-12

"In high school, students are preparing for university and work life. The district believes that self-regulation is an important skill to learn," the school district said. "GHS will introduce an implementation plan beginning in September 2024, with full implementation beginning the week after the December recess. Consequences for infractions will begin in January."

Phones should not be out during open blocks, lunch, in restrooms or during instructional time unless approval is given from an adult.

Appropriate use may be for instructional purposes, but also for showing digital IDs to enter the building, having an administrator or staff check an active schedule, to purchase lunch or check out items from the Greenwich High School Media Center, the school district said.

"It is understood by GPS that students in high school must learn to self-regulate their cell phone usage before graduating and entering a world in which cellular use is necessary for work and life. However, the nature of progressive use from grades K-12 is to assist young people in learning to socialize more, and look at screens less," the school district added. "It is also understood that GHS students are very busy and activities after school often mean students are on campus or returning from activities after dark. Having a personal cell phone may be seen by parents/guardians as a safety mechanism for their child."

Consequences For Inappropriate Use

The school district said the inappropriate use of cellphones or other devices "will be handled swiftly" and in step with the established middle and high school discipline code of conduct grid.

At the elementary level, inappropriate use will require administration and parent/guardian communication.

"At all grade levels, repeated infractions will require the student to turn the phone in at the office and you may need to come to school to retrieve the device," the school district said.

Check out the full newsletter from Greenwich Public Schools