In an effort to support student safety before and after school, Aldine ISD students will be allowed to posses cell phones on campus during the 2012-2013 school year.

While students will be allowed to bring their cell phones to school, students must adhere to the following rules:

• Cell phones must be turned off and cannot be visible on campus areas during the school day.
• The campus areas include loading and unloading areas for vehicles and buses, in the building or on campus grounds.
• The school day includes, but is not limited to, before and after school, class time, change of class time periods, breakfast/lunch periods, after school detention, tutorials, emergency drills, practices for extracurricular events and field trips.
• Placing a cell phone on vibrate is NOT considered “off” and is prohibited.
• Texting on a cell phone is NOT considered “off” and is prohibited.
• Using a cell phone to record or video tape is prohibited.
• Students are NOT permitted to possess radios, MP3 players, video or audio recorders, DVD players, cameras, games or other electronic devices at school unless permission has been obtained by a campus administration.

The only student groups that will be prohibited from possessing cell phones on campus will be prekindergarten (PK), first grade students and those assigned to the district’s alternative education programs (COMPASS and GAP).

If a student is found in violation of this policy, the following discipline will be administered:

First Offense

• The cell phone will be confiscated and returned to a parent or legal guardian after a seven-day waiting period.
• In accordance with Texas Education Code 37.082, a $15 administrative fee will be collected.

Second Offense

• The cell phone will be confiscated and returned to a parent or legal guardian after a 30-day waiting period.
• In accordance with Texas Education Code 37.082, a $15 administrative fee will be collected.

Third Offense

• The cell phone will be confiscated and returned to a parent or legal guardian after the end of the school year.
• In accordance with Texas Education Code 37.082, a $15 administrative fee will be collected.

Parents/legal guardians and students should be aware that ANY violation of cell phone policy by students, which causes or involves a distraction or interruption of transportation, the instructional environment or leads to the violation of other district rules or policies, will be subject to disciplinary action according 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.

If parents/legal guardians need to contact a student during the school day, they are requested to contact the school office for assistance. If students need to use a phone during the school day, they must use school phones, which are made available to students with appropriate permission.

Aldine ISD personnel are not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged cell phones or electronic devices.
Parents/legal guardians and students should also be aware that state testing guidelines prohibit cell phones during state testing [Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS), State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), and end-of-year (EOC) testing]. Any violation of this policy can result in the invalidation of the assessment and further disciplinary action according to the Student Code of Conduct.