§ 16-21-43. Policy on use of personal electronic devices in schools. [Effective August 1, 2026.]
(a)(1) Each public school shall have a policy regarding the use of personal electronic devices
on school grounds and during school-sponsored activities to reduce distractions, maintain
environments focused on learning, and protect the privacy and safety of students and
staff. Each public school shall notify the parents or guardians of all students attending
the school of the policy. The policy shall include, but not be limited to, a prohibition
on physical access to a personal electronic device by students during the school day
as defined by the department of education and the commission of elementary and secondary
education pursuant to §§ 16-2-2 and 16-2-9 and any regulations promulgated thereunder including, but not limited to, 200-RICR-20-05-1.
(2) The district shall make exceptions for student personal device use that provide access
to assistive technology necessary to comply with individualized student 504 plans,
individualized education plans (IEP), medical needs such as glucose monitoring, and/or
a plan to support emergent multilingual learners (MLL) students with appropriate language
access programs and services to ensure the provision of appropriate, meaningful public
education. The allowable exceptions shall be written into the student's identified
plan and approved by the appropriate team or coordinator.
(3) Students provided an exception to this policy shall not be segregated from students
without such exception. Exceptions shall also be made in the event of an emergency.
(b) For the purposes of this section, a "personal electronic device� means a smartphone,
mobile phone, tablet, computer, smartwatch, or other electronic device not owned or
provided to a student by a public school that is capable of communication through
the internet or a wireless network.
(c) The policy and any standards and rules enforcing the policy shall be prescribed by
the school committee in conjunction with the superintendent or the board of trustees
of a charter school and in consultation with any collective bargaining agents that
represent school staff. The policy shall be enforced consistently by school administration,
be systematic in nature, and should minimize the potential for conflict between students,
parents, educators, and staff.
(d) No school official, employee, or agent of the school shall search the contents of
any personal electronic device covered by this chapter that is retained by the school
during school hours and not in the student's possession in a locked pouch or container.
(e) The department of elementary and secondary education shall, in consultation with the
attorney general's office and the department of health, provide guidance and recommendations
to assist schools with developing and implementing effective policies regarding the
use of personal electronic devices on school grounds and during school-sponsored activities
consistent with this section and shall make such guidance and recommendations publicly
available on the department's website. Guidance and recommendations shall be reviewed
annually and regularly updated to reflect applicable research and best practices.
(f) Each school district and charter school shall file its school personal electronic
device use policy with the department of elementary and secondary education in a manner
and form prescribed by the department.