District Implements New Cell Phone Guidelines

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The biggest change is for middle schoolers; they cannot wear earphones/earbuds on campus.

Aldine ISD permits students to possess cell phone devices on campus to support student safety before and after school. The campus includes loading and unloading areas for cars and buses in the building or on campus grounds. The school day includes but is not limited to class time, after-school detention, tutorials, and during emergency drills.

Cell phones are prohibited for students in grades PreK-Grade 1. Aldine’s guidelines require supervision of primary students by adults or by an elementary-aged or older student who can communicate and relay information at bus stops and for walkers.

1. Cell phones must be turned off and cannot be visible on campus during the school day, including during all testing, unless they are being used for approved instructional purposes. Cell phones are prohibited from classroom use and any other area where academic work is being done unless otherwise instructed by the teacher.
2. Placing a cell phone on vibrate or texting is not considered off and is prohibited.
3. Cell phones and other devices are not permitted to be charged in the school.
4. For Elementary and Middle School Students — Headphones and other Bluetooth-enabled devices (earphones/earbuds) are not permitted to be worn on campus. They must be put away securely by the student.
5. Cell phones are not to be used in restrooms.
6. Using a cell phone to record or videotape is prohibited unless approved for instructional purposes.
7. A staff member may confiscate a cell phone/electronic device if it rings, vibrates, is used for any reason without the teacher’s permission, is visible anytime during class time, or if caught using it on campus during class time.
8. Wristwatches with cell phone capabilities must follow the same guidelines as cell phones.

Inappropriate use or severe violations of these guidelines include, but are not limited to:

1. Electronic communication that contains inappropriate content, profanity, intimidation, or threats to others;
2. Sexting, which includes intentionally creating, producing, distributing, presenting, transmitting, posting, exchanging, disseminating, or possessing, through any computer or digital media, any photograph or digitized image or any visual depiction of a person in any condition of nudity, or involved in any prohibited sexual act;
3. Academic dishonesty or cheating;
4. The use of camera or recording features of cell phones and portable digital media devices in restrooms, locker rooms or for any use constituting an invasion of any person’s reasonable expectation of privacy;
5. Communicating in a way with outside groups or individuals to participate in violent acts or other inappropriate or unlawful activities on school property or at school-sponsored events;
6. Refusal to relinquish the phone to persons of authority upon request

Violation of these guidelines will result in the following:

First Offense

1. The cell phone will be confiscated and returned to a parent or guardian after a seven (7) calendar day waiting period.
   Or
2. Under Texas Education Code 37.082, a $15.00 administrative fee will be collected. The phone will be returned to a parent at the end of that
   school day.

Second Offense

1. The cell phone will be confiscated and returned to a parent or guardian after a 30 calendar day waiting period.
2. Per Texas Education Code 37.082, a $15.00 administrative fee will be collected.

Third Offense

1. The cell phone will be confiscated and returned to a parent or guardian after the end of the school year.
2. Following Texas Education Code 37.082, a $15.00 administrative fee will be collected.

The phone will be available for return the first day school is back in session if the return period ends during a school vacation or holiday.

If parents must contact a student during the school day, the district requests they contact the school office for assistance.

Students requiring the use of a phone during the school day must use a school phone available for student use with appropriate permission.

Aldine ISD personnel are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged cell phones or electronic devices.

Cell phones are prohibited at the Knippel Education Center and the GAP Center.

State testing guidelines prohibit cell phones during state testing [TELPAS, STARR, end-of-course (EOC) exams]. Any violation of this guideline can result in the invalidation of the assessment and further disciplinary action according to the Student Code of Conduct.

According to the Student Code of Conduct, failure to comply with a staff directive to turn in a cell phone will be considered defiance of authority and subject to disciplinary action.

According to the Student Code of Conduct, any violation of these guidelines, which causes or involves a distraction or interruption of transportation, the instructional environment, or leads to the violation of other district rules or policies, the student will be subject to disciplinary action.

For cell phone, dress, and other guidelines, visit the AldineISD.org homepage and hover/click over “Student/Parent” on the menu bar at the top of the page. Visit AwayForTheDay.org to learn more about the negative impact of cell phones on kids.