Cell Phone & Other Electronic Device Policy

FRANKLIN TOWNE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL - CELL PHONES & OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES

At Franklin Towne Charter High School, we recognize the growing importance of technology in our daily lives, including the use of cell phones and other electronic devices. However, to maintain an optimal learning environment, it is essential to limit distractions and ensure academic integrity. Therefore, FTCHS has established a clear policy regarding the use of cell phones and electronic devices during school hours. This policy aims to create a focused and respectful educational atmosphere, free from the interruptions and potential misuse that such devices can bring. We ask all students, parents, and guardians to review the following guidelines to understand the expectations and consequences related to cell phone and electronics usage on campus. Please view the cell  phone and other electronic device policies below.

2024-2025 FTCHS CELL PHONES & OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES 

FTCHS understands that cell phones / wearable electronic WiFi enabled devices are an important part of a person’s everyday life. However, cell phones and wearable devices, such as smartwatches, are not permitted in an FTCHS classroom because they serve as an educational distraction and can promote cheating.

If a parent needs to contact a child during the instructional day, please call the front desk and we will get a message to your child. If your child needs to contact a parent, an FTCHS telephone at the front desk is available for use during lunches and at the end of the school day. We encourage students to take cell phones, as a safety precaution, on class trips. However, once students return to school their cell phones & wearable devices must immediately be placed back into their lockers until the end of the school day.

If a student is found to be in possession of a cell phone or wearable device during the school day, the following will result:

  • First Offense: Student will receive sixty-minute detention, cell phone device will be confiscated and released to student at the end of the day, only to once parent/guardian is contacted and acknowledges the possible consequences of future offenses.

  • Second Offense: Student will receive a two-hour Friday detention, cell phone device will be confiscated and released only to parent/guardian, and student will lose all eligibility for extracurricular activities and events until notified by a school administrator.

  • Third Offense: Student will be subject to further discipline, up to and including, referral for expulsion.

Parents and guardians, since this type of offense carries a very heavy penalty, we are asking for your help to encourage your children to have their cell phone device always turned off and in their lockers during the school day. Thank you for your support.


Franklin Towne Charter High School will permit general education students to bring cell phones and other electronic devices to school PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES ARE FOLLOWED:


• Students must keep all cell phones and wearable devices in their lockers, turned off, from 7:50 am until they are dismissed from school.

• Detention, in-school detention, suspension, and after-school tutoring are all considered classroom activities. Therefore, cell phones & wearable devices must always remain in their lockers during these activities.

• At no time is a student permitted to have any electronic device in their possession during school day hours unless the device has been issued by the school. If a student cannot make it to their locker upon arriving at school, they must relinquish their cell phone device to a staff member. The device will then be transferred to the front desk for retrieval at the end of the day.

• FTCHS is not responsible for damaged, lost or stolen property that a student voluntarily brings to school including cell phones / wearable electronic Wi-Fi enabled devices.

• All headphones must be removed and placed in book-bags upon entering the building. All headphones must be stored in locker during the school day and must not be worn until student has exited building.

• Students are not permitted to bring e-book readers such as Kindles, Nooks, iPads, etc. to school.

• Students are not permitted to bring cameras to school.

• Franklin Towne shall permit a student with an IEP to bring cell phones and/or other electronic devices to school if use of the device is provided as an accommodation in the student’s IEP. Use of these devices will be strictly limited to the usage outlined in the IEP for the individual student.

Franklin Towne Charter High School reserves the right to use hand-held and stationary metal detectors for use during student searches. If either of these instruments determine that a student is in possession of a detectable item (including cell phones / wearable electronic WiFi enabled devices), the student will be subject to a more extensive search by a same-sex school employee to the extent necessary to identify and secure the detected item. If an item of contraband is found during the search and the student does not relinquish the detected item, the student may be referred for expulsion. Please see the “Searches” policy in the Code of Conduct for further details.