Phone policy adopted; high school pouches stay

What happened

The School Committee approved its personal electronic device policy on a second reading on June 11, 2026. Rhode Island law requires the committee to review this policy every year. The version discussed in May tells students to leave devices at home wherever possible and, where that is not possible, to store them away from themselves according to each school's own protocol. Barrington High School had already been using locked pouches since the autumn, and an amendment to the policy was listed again for the August 2026 meeting.

Why it matters to families

This decides whether a student can reach their phone during the school day, and it is the rule families hear about first from their children.

The evidence

The June 11, 2026 approved minutes record a 4-0 vote approving the personal device policy on second read. The May 7, 2026 minutes record the first read, note that state law requires annual review, and record the district lawyer's proposed wording that students should leave all devices at home whenever possible and otherwise store them away from students in line with each school's protocol. The September 11, 2025 minutes record the student representative reporting that the pouches at the high school seem to be working effectively. The August 6, 2026 agenda lists a first read amendment to the same policy. The policy text was not filed with the minutes.

The source