Per state mandate, all Maine public school boards must adopt and enforce a strict policy prohibiting student use of personal electronic devices for the entire duration of the school day, including cell phones, personal laptops, smartwatches, and other electronic devices with internet or cellular network capabilities—from the starting bell to the dismissal bell. *
To ensure developmental appropriateness and operational success, implementation procedures are categorized into three distinct grade bands: PreK–5, 6–8, and 9–12.

Grade Band Procedures

PreK - Grade 5 (Elementary)
● Storage Location: Inside the student's backpack.
● Device Status: Powered completely off.
● Smartwatches: Treated the same as cell phones; must remain in backpacks all day.

Grades 6 - 8
● Students turn off cell phones and secure them in their lockers during the morning homeroom period.
● Students secure personal earbuds and smartwatches in their lockers during the morning homeroom period.
● Personal laptops / tablets remain at home.
● Students will reunite with their devices at the conclusion of the school day.

Grades 9 - 12 (High School)

● Prior to first period and by 7:55am, students will store phones, powered down, with a designated teacher in cell phone boxes for the day.
● For most students, designated storage will be with the teacher of their final class of the school day, allowing them to retrieve the phone as their school day ends.
● Students with a planned early dismissal for school-related activities (ex. field trips, away games for sports) will store phones with a designated staff member, who will also facilitate retrieval of phones as students depart for their event.
● Students arriving late to school will store their phones in the main office, where it will remain until retrieved by the student at dismissal.
● Personal devices, including laptops and tablets, will no longer be registered for personal use, and we ask that those remain at home. All students will be issued a new Chromebook for school and take-home academic use.
● Earbuds will continue to not be allowed during school hours, and their use will be addressed by administration.
● Smartwatches should remain at home, and their use will be addressed by administration.

Please reach out to your building principal with any questions.

**Exceptions: Medical/Communication exemptions may be made on an as-needed basis

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