51黑料

The Post-Dispatch reviewed the policies of 15 school districts in 51黑料 and St. Charles counties. Most established blanket bans during the school day but varied in exceptions and disciplinary consequences. The rules generally go beyond cellphones and extend to smartwatches, gaming devices, personal laptops and tablets.

Each school district provided exceptions for medical or emergency situations, as well as exceptions needed for special education plans, among others. Unspecified 鈥渆ducational purposes鈥� also are allowed.

Most school districts adopted rules based on a model policy provided by the Missouri School Boards鈥� Association.

Here is how half a dozen area districts are enforcing the cellphone ban:

• At , punishments range from calling students鈥� parents to multiple-day suspensions spent at the district鈥檚 alternative school. The district鈥檚 student handbook says phones will be given to school principals if students have their devices out at any point during the school day, including lunch, breaks and time between classes. Only a parent can get the student鈥檚 phone back. High school and middle school students could face suspensions of up to nine days in the district鈥檚 Opportunity Center.
• was one of few to allow the use of smartwatches, but only for 鈥渢ime keeping and activity tracking.鈥� Elementary and middle school students are prohibited from using their phones at any time during the school day, but high schoolers are under a 鈥減artial restriction,鈥� meaning they can use their devices between classes and in cafeterias.
• 鈥榮 policy included the risk of expulsion even before the cellphone law was enacted, but the district is one of few still to threaten that form of discipline. First offenses result in confiscation, a meeting with the principal, detention or in-school suspension. Subsequent offenses could lead to the same, or expulsion or an out-of-school suspension lasting from one day to the entire school year. The district has limited middle and high school students from using their phones since the 2023-24 school year.
• is giving warnings for first offenses and in-school suspensions for subsequent violations. Students using devices that 鈥渟ubstantially disrupt the school environment鈥� could receive suspensions of up to 180 days (the whole school year) or face expulsion. The administrators may search students鈥� personal devices if they believe other school rules were violated.
• has milder consequences, with its policy saying verbal warnings will be given on the first offense, a parent contacted on the second and an office referral on the third. It is one of a few districts that does not call for confiscation of phones or devices on the first offense.
• provides for the use of 鈥渞estorative practice鈥� that enables administrators to use alternatives to punitive measures.