Personal Electronic Device Update

Dear Parents and Guardians,

District 300 is committed to creating learning environments where every student can focus on academics, engage deeply with their teachers, and meaningfully connect with their peers.

Beginning on the first day of the 2026-27 school year, Tuesday, August 11, 2026, our district will implement an updated policy regarding student use of personal electronic devices during the school day.

This policy, approved by the Board of Education in January 2026, requires that all student phones and personal electronic devices remain put away and not used during instructional and study time.

Our goal is simple: to reduce distractions so students can concentrate, learn effectively, and build strong relationships at school.

This message provides a general overview of the upcoming change. Additional communications with more detailed information about expectations, procedures, and implementation will be shared throughout the summer and at the start of the new school year.

Below is a summary of how the policy will be implemented by grade level:

• Students may bring personal electronic devices to school, but they may only be used before or after the school day.
  
  
• During school hours, all personal electronic devices must be turned off and stored in student backpacks.

• Similar to preschool and elementary school, middle school and high school students will be allowed to use their personal electronic devices before or after the school day.
  
  
• In addition, high school students will be allowed to use their personal electronic devices during lunch in the school cafeteria.
  
  
• During instructional and study time, all devices must be secured in a school-issued Yondr pouch. Each middle and high school student will receive a Yondr pouch at the start of the school year, which they will keep and reuse each year while enrolled in District 300.
  
  
• Students will have the ability to unlock and access phones in the event of a lockdown or other emergency situation.
  
  
• Yondr pouches are secure, lockable cases that can only be opened using a special magnetic unlocking stations located throughout each school. Additional information about Yondr pouches will be provided to parents and students in the future and is also available at www.overyondr.com.

When evaluating requests for the inclusion of personal electronic devices in an IEP or 504 Plan, the focus must remain on two core justifications:

• Medical Monitoring: Accommodations should center on essential medical needs, such as continuous diabetic monitoring.
  
  
• Firm Educational Need: The device must be vital to the student’s ability to access the curriculum and not merely a preference and no other district provided technology can be made available.

We will review all accommodation requests for student access to electronic devices on a case by case basis. Students meeting the criteria for accommodations will be provided a velcro Yondr pouch to secure their device.

Research published by institutions such as the Pew Research Center and the Journal of the American Medical Association highlights the pervasive nature of cellphone distraction during the school day. By implementing this new policy, District 300 is seeking to remove these barriers so students are better equipped to achieve academically and more actively engage with their peers and teachers.

District-issued devices and instructional technology will still remain central to teaching and learning in our classrooms. This policy helps ensure that student electronic devices do not compete with instruction.

As we implement this change, our staff, administrators, and Central Office teams will work together to support students and families with clear expectations and consistent procedures across all schools.

Thank you for your continued partnership in creating a present, positive, and focused environment for every student.