The Fairfax County Public Schools Board of Education came to a decision to adopted the latest Student Rights & Responsibilities handbook for FCPS students, during its Thursday night meeting, which includes an updated section on cell phone usage. Per the FCPS website:
Cell phone usage has been a popular topic. Key highlights of related changes are below for your convenience:
- Grades K-8: Phones must be silenced and put away for the duration of the school day.
- Grades 9-12: Phones must be silenced and put away during all instructional periods.
- Students are prohibited from using phones, tablets, and other mobile devices in restrooms and locker rooms, unless there is a medical necessity or emergency.
- Parents/Guardians, multi-disciplinary team members, or other persons with knowledge of students who require access to personally owned devices as an accommodation shall make requests for such accommodations through their respective multi-disciplinary team.
The Student Rights & Responsibilities handbook for FCPS students explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. In addition to the updated cell phone policy, key changes include:
- Detailed information about orientation or training stakeholders including school-based administrators and staff, transportation staff, and coaching staff; students; and families.
- Adding rights to protect citizenship and immigration status from unauthorized sharing.
- Changes to FCPS’ Acceptable Use Policy Regulation for Technology.
- A clarification on the response to substance misuse violations.
- A clarification on the purpose of individualized education program (IEP) meetings when students with disabilities are reassigned for disciplinary reasons following referral to the superintendent.