Col. Zadok Magruder High School

ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY

Revised August 2008

    • School policy states that use or possession of cellular phones, pagers, or beepers is not allowed during the school, between the hours of 7:00 am-2:10 pm.  Cell phones must be turned off and placed in a backpack, locker, pocket, or purse.  Cell phones are not to be visible in any way, including: attached to belts or pockets.  Cell phones are not to ring in the classroom at any time.  Also, students cannot receive or send text messages during the school hours between 7:00 am-2:10 pm.

    • Cameras and camcorders are not allowed in school.

    • It is strongly recommended that students NOT bring any valuable, portable electronic devices to school, i.e., I-Pods, MP3 players, pagers, CD players.  However, students are permitted to use portable electronic devices (I-Pods, MP3 players, CD players) before school until the 7:20 am warning bell.   After the 7:20 am bell, all portable electronic devices are to be put away, out of sight.

      • Consequences for students who violate the Electronic Device Policy include:

        • Item confiscated and will be returned only to a parent or guardian
        • In-School Suspension (unauthorized use of device)
        • Out of School Suspension of 1-10 days
        • Recommendation for expulsion

        Montgomery County Public Schools Regulation COG-RA states the following:

        No student may use a portable communication device in a manner that is profane, indecent, obscene, or constitutes an invasion of privacy. Examples of this include, but are not limited to, photographs or text messages.

        High school students may possess portable communication devices on MCPS property and at MCPS-sponsored activities. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the device is turned off and out of sight during times of unauthorized use. The high school student may not turn on/use the device until the end of the official instructional day on the high school campus. Use of devices by high school students riding to and from school on MCPS buses is permitted as long as it does not impact the safe operation of the school bus. However, high school students may not use portable communication devices on MCPS or commercially chartered buses used for school-sponsored activities during the official instructional day.

        Depending on circumstances, the disciplinary action could include but not be limited to conference, confiscation of the device, loss of privileges, detention, and up to ten days suspension.

        If, after appropriate investigation, a student is found in unauthorized possession or use of a portable communication device, the principal/designee may confiscate the device in accordance with procedures outlined in Regulation JGB-RA: Search and Seizure.