Beginning in the Fall 2024, Central Valley will enforce a ban on all cell phones during the instructional day. This includes cell phones and any other devices capable of two-way messaging or communication. School-issued devices and devices used to monitor specific health conditions are exempt.

The ban only covers the instructional day:

• 7:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. for grades 5-12
• 8:30 a.m.–2:40 p.m. for grades PK-4)

Students in grades PK-4 will leave their devices on silent in their backpacks.

Students in grades 5-12 may:

• Leave their cell phones at home, 
• Leave their cell phones in their vehicle if they drive to school, or
• Lock their cell phones in a school provided-lock box in their morning Advisory and pick them up at the end of the instructional day in their afternoon Advisory.  

To get an important message to their children:

1. A parent/guardian can call the school's main office.  Office personnel will relay the message to the student. If the message is personal/private, staff will call the student to the office to speak directly with the parent/guardian.
2. Students can access personal email accounts (ex. Yahoo, gmail, etc.) on their school-issued Chromebooks. Students will periodically be able to check their email and respond to a parent/guardian via email if needed.

For more information:

• Superintendent's original ParentSquare message announcing the policy
• CVCSD Grades 5-12 cell phone/Communication Device Policy - Questions & Answers
• Student Cell Phone/Electronic Device Policy (Policy 7300)
• Penalties and Procedures for Student Electronic Use (Policy 7300.1) 

Learn more?

Take a few moments and read these articles that look at cell phones, students, and learning:

• Why Schools Should Ban Cell Phones in the Classroom
• Bill Gates Issues Warning on Kids’ Smartphone Use
• Some States in U.S. Move to Ban Cell Phone Use in Public Schools (NBC video)