PUSD Mobile Device Policy for 2025-26

PUSD does not allow the use of personal electronic devices at school.

 

Students are not permitted to use personal mobile devices — personal electronic devices including phones, smartwatches, tablets, or wireless earbuds — from the time they arrive on campus until they leave.

 

"Off & Away" means devices must remain off and out of sight for the entire school day.

"Off & Away" Mobile Device Policy adopted July 22, 2025

An important change to our mobile device policy will go into effect at the beginning of the 2025–26 school year. In compliance with Assembly Bill 3216, which requires all California school districts to adopt a policy limiting or prohibiting student smartphone, smart watch, tablet, and wireless earbud use during school hours by July 1, 2026, the Plumas Unified School District Superintendent approved Board Policy 5131.8, Option 2 on July 22, 2025. 

Beginning this fall, students will not be permitted to use personal mobile devices—including phones, smartwatches, tablets, or wireless earbuds—from the time they arrive on campus until they leave. District-issued Chromebooks will continue to be used for educational activities. If a student needs to contact home, they may use the school office phone.

This change was made in response to growing evidence that mobile devices during the school day negatively impact learning, increase behavioral issues, and reduce academic focus. Based on survey feedback from staff and families, the majority of our educational partners supported a more restrictive policy to better support our students' success.

To comply with the new policy, students should either leave their devices at home or turn them off and store them in their backpacks before entering campus. Devices must remain off and out of sight for the entire school day. Chromebooks will remain the primary device for school-related work.

Policy Violations Will Result in the Following Consequences:

• 1st Violation: Device is confiscated and stored in a secure location. It may be picked up by the student at the end of the day. A warning will be issued and documented in Aeries.
  
  
• 2nd Violation: Device is confiscated and must be picked up by a parent. The student will receive a school-assigned consequence and the parent will be notified.
  
  
• 3rd Violation: Device is confiscated and must be picked up by a parent. The student will receive a school consequence.
  
  
• 4th Violation: Device is confiscated and must be picked up by a parent. Moving forward, the student will be required to check their phone into the front office each morning and retrieve it at the end of the day for a designated period of time determined by school administration.
  
  

All violations will be documented in Aeries for tracking purposes.

Each school site will determine appropriate consequences based on its needs and student support systems. These may include school beautification, detention, loss of privileges (such as dances or field trips), and Saturday School assignments.

To ensure you receive timely updates and emergency notifications, we encourage all families to download the free ParentSquare app, available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

If you have any questions about this policy change, please reach out to your child’s school site administrator. We appreciate your partnership as we work together to create a focused, respectful, and academically supportive school environment for all students.