Now administrators are wrestling with how to permit the legitimate use of phones, while preventing possible privacy violations and cheating. Check out the following links:

Crafting a Workable Cell Phone Policy, Education World, Feb 22, 2005

MANALAPAN-ENGLISHTOWN REGIONAL BOARD OF EDUCATION Adopted Policy, October 12 2004

Nova Scotia Cell Phone Policy 

Here are some excerpts from school board policies on cell phones and pagers. 

Plano Independent School District "A paging device is a telecommunications device that emits an audible signal, vibrates, displays a message, or otherwise summons or delivers a communication to the possessor. The board may adopt a policy prohibiting students from possessing paging devices while on school property or while attending school-sponsored or school-related activities on or off school property."

Moline School District 40, Moline, Ill. "Prohibited student conduct: Disciplinary action may be taken against any student guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, including, but not limited to, the following: using or possessing electronic signaling and cellular radio-telecommunications devices, unless authorized and approved by the building principal. Electronic signaling devices include pocket -- and all similar -- electronic paging devices."

Ferguson-Florissant School District, Florissant, Mo. "Pagers, laser pointers, cell phones, or other electronic devices not part of the instructional program will not be allowed in school. They will be confiscated and returned only to a parent or guardian."

Cobb County Public Schools, Cobb County, Ga. "Students are not allowed to use, wear, possess or store in their locker: cellular telephones, communication beepers, other electronic communication devices, including all 'look alikes,' at school during the regular school day or at school-sponsored events. Any student found in violation of this policy shall be subject to in-school suspension."

Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery County, Md. "Possession of portable pager on public school property. In this section the following words have the meanings indicated: 'Portable pager' means any device carried, worn, or transported by an individual to receive or communicate messages. 'Public school property' means the grounds of any public school. "Except as provided ..., an individual may not possess a portable pager on public school property. This section does not apply to: handicapped students using portable pagers for medical reasons; law enforcement officers; visitors on public school property for an authorized program, meeting, or function; faculty or staff members employed by a county board; members of any volunteer fire department, ambulance company, or rescue squad, who are designated to possess a portable pager on public school property by the chief of the volunteer fire department, ambulance company, or rescue squad, and the school principal; and students whose portable pagers are contained in vehicles that are on public school property and are not found to be connected with criminal activity."

Allentown School District, Allentown, Pa. "The possession of beepers, pagers or other electronic communication devices by school district employees where supportive of the general welfare and the educational program of the school is endorsed. The possession of beepers/pagers/electronic communication devices by students has been found to be not only disruptive but, in many instances, contributory to illegal purposes, such as alcohol and other drug abuse."

Pennsylvania School Boards Association policy guides for Pennsylvania school districts: "The board prohibits possession of laser pointers and attachments, cellular telephones, and telephone paging devices by students on school grounds, on buses and other vehicles provided by the district, and at school-sponsored events. "This prohibition does not apply in the following cases, provided that the building principal approves in advance of the presence of a telephone pager: a student who is a member of a volunteer fire company, ambulance or rescue squad; or a student who has a need for a telephone pager due to the medical condition of an immediate family member.