Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, DJUSD will implement an updated Away for the Daymobile device policy designed to create more focused learning environments, support student well-being and reduce classroom distractions.
Under the "Away for the Day" policy, mobile devices are to be turned “off and stored away for the day”, including time out of the classroom on a hall pass and during ALL school and state assessments/tests. Students will not be allowed to use mobile devices during class time unless the student has explicit permission from the classroom teacher. Mobile devices are not permitted with substitute teachers. School employees may require a daily “office check-in/check-out” of mobile devices at any time for failure to follow school policy.
California state law (Cal. Ed. Code § 48901.5) refrains student use of any electronic device during instructional time without explicit permission from the classroom teacher or substitute. Violation of this policy may include having the mobile device visible or audible during instructional time. The consequences for violating this policy are listed below and posted in every classroom. Teachers/Administration/Staff will use Minga to log incident and issue consequence(s). The cell phone applies to each individual class. Administration/Staff will input it into the AEquitas and store mobile device in our DSHS Front Office for student or parent pick-up. This way, the teacher and VP have documentation about what step the student is on.
Students will adhere to the expectation that mobile devices, inclusive of smartwatches, glasses, laptop messaging, etc., will remain off and away for the day.
The following are exceptions are allowed per CA Ed code:
- In case of an emergency
- Teacher/Administrator discretion
- Provided through a formal student plan (Health, IEP, 504)
According to CA Ed Code 48900s the following actions which occur while on school grounds, take place while going to or coming from school, during the lunch period whether on or off campus and during or while going to or coming from a school sponsored activity are subject to discipline.