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Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors

Cell phones, taking photos banned during school day at all Pittsburgh Public Schools starting this fall.

Written by Annabelle Chipps, Chris Maury and Amy Whipple

There will be no selfies in science class, no Instagram in algebra, and no SnapChat in social studies in the Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) in the next school year.

Cell phone usage and possession during the school day will be banned in PPS starting this fall. Additionally, students may not take, store, transfer, share or view any photograph, image or video of anyone on school property.

The PPS board unanimously approved this new policy during a legislative meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Students can bring cell phones or personal electronic devices to school, but must turn them in at the start of each day, the new policy said.

Previous legislation allowed each PPS school to regulate cell phones on its own. Pennsylvania law similarly does not prohibit cell phones statewide.

Violations of the new rule will result in disciplinary action for the student, including the possible confiscation of their device.

The superintendent or a school's principal can grant exceptions to this rule in unique circumstances, such as an emergency, an individualized education plan (IEP) or as part of a classroom activity. Exceptions may also apply for medical reasons.

The new policy claimed that the school will annually notify students of this change and its exceptions.

A proposed version of the document, attached to the meeting agenda, included questions about the logistics of this change. The questions, verbatim, read:

  • Should schools hold phones?
  • Honor system or turn into teachers?
  • How to monitor?
  • Cost of purchase/rental of phones bags?

These questions were not addressed during the meeting nor in the final draft of the resolution

"The District shall not be liable for the loss, damage or misuse of any electronic device brought to school by a student," the policy also noted.

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Education
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Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors

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