Cell Phone and Personal Device Policy

You may contact your school's main office, and a staff member will relay the message to your child. For middle and high school students, you can also email your child using their personal email address.

In the event of an emergency, the school district will send out a crisis communication using ALL communication channels available. In addition, staff would allow students to use their personal devices to communicate with families. This ensures student safety while minimizing daily classroom disruptions.

Emergencies are defined in policy as a serious, unexpected, and dangerous situation that requires immediate action, including, but not limited to, immediate safety threats to the school, an active fire, tornado, or earthquake, an evacuation of school grounds, or a medical emergency.

Have conversations with your child about the new policy and ensure they are aware of these expectations and the consequences. If you need to reach your child or if there is an emergency, you can call the school office or contact your child using their personal email address (middle and high school students).

For disciplinary guidelines, see pages 56-61 of the Ladue Schools Student Parent Handbook. If a printed copy of the handbook is preferred, please email your name and address along with the request to input@ladueschools.net and one will be mailed to you. 

Using, displaying, or turning on a cell phone/electronic personal communication device for the entire school day, including passing periods, mealtime, recess, or instructional time, unless for direct educational purposes as instructed by a staff member, or otherwise permitted by the building principal for access to curriculum as determined by a 504, to meet a special education need as determined by an IEP, written in an IHP for medical reasons, for emergencies, or to remove a language barrier. Personal electronic devices include, but are not limited to, cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, iPads, etc. Failure to follow school processes and procedures for device collection or storage is also a direct violation of this policy.

For disciplinary guidelines, see pages 56-61 of the Ladue Schools Student Parent Handbook. If a printed copy of the handbook is preferred, please email your name and address along with the request to input@ladueschools.net and one will be mailed to you. 

We understand that some students may need access to their phones or smartwatches for health-related purposes, such as monitoring health conditions. These accommodations can be discussed with the building administrator and may be permitted for access to curriculum as determined by a 504, to meet a special education need as determined by an IEP, written in an IHP for medical reasons, for emergencies, or to remove a language barrier. 

If a teacher determines that a cell phone/electronic personal communication device or other device is necessary for a specific activity or lesson, they can permit students to use their devices during that time.

Educational purpose is defined in policy as using personal communication devices for academic activities conducted electronically that cannot reasonably be accomplished using a Ladue-issued device.

Students are not allowed to use, display, or turn on their cell phone/electronic personal communication devices during the entire school day (instructional time, meal times, passing periods, and recess).

Electronic personal communication devices are defined by the law and Ladue Schools policy as any portable device that is used to initiate, receive, store, or view communication, information, images, or data electronically, and include, but are not limited to, cell phones, tablets, iPads, and smartwatches, etc. Failure to follow school processes and procedures for device collection or storage is also a direct violation of this policy.

Students are expected to use only their Ladue-issued devices while at school.