FCUSD Student mobile device use and schedules
July 27, 2023  

Dear middle and elementary school families,

Please read below for Important information on:

• Mobile device use for middle and elementary students
• Elementary school schedules, and the start of the school year

Mobile device use:

As our students return to school, we want to remind you of Board Policy 5131.8 on mobile communications devices which was revised last school year and which goes into effect this year. These changes were prompted by increased distractions to student learning and concerns about the negative impact of cell phone use during the school day. To reference the original message please click on April 21 Board Briefs and Updates.

 The following reflects the new policy:

• No changes to the elementary policy -- Mobile devices continue to be prohibited
• Students in grades 6 - 8 will be adopting the elementary school policy beginning with the 2023-24 school year which means:
  • All mobile devices must be turned off and placed out of sight during the school day
  • Students who need to call parents may use phones located in the administrative office

Middle school only:

To facilitate a phone-free school and to improve teaching and learning, FCUSD middle schools will be using a system called Yondr. Yondr has been implemented in over 2,000 schools across 16 countries to facilitate an engaged learning environment. 

The Yondr Program utilizes a simple, secure pouch that stores a phone. Every student will secure their phone in a personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school. Students will maintain possession of their phones and will not use them until their pouches are opened at the end of the school day.  

Yondr recently surveyed over 900 school partners to measure the effects of creating phone-free educational environments. These schools achieved notable progress in multiple areas:

• 65% of schools saw an improvement in academic performance
• 74% of schools saw an improvement in student behavior
• 83% of schools saw an improvement in student engagement in the classroom

Your school will be providing Yondr bags for students and will be sharing further communication on this program. Please reach out to your principal with any questions.

Elementary 2023-24 schedules

Elementary schools will have early release days on all Thursdays. Students in grades K - 5 will have an early release time of 1:15 p.m. to facilitate Common Planning Time for teachers.

Grades K - 2 will have minimum days for the first three (3) weeks of school. The schedule for minimum days is 8:15 a.m. – 1:21 p.m., except Thursday.

The first day of school is August 8  and the full-day schedule for elementary will begin on August 28 which includes full-day Kindergarten at all schools throughout the District.

You may view the 2023-24 instructional calendar by clicking on this link.

Please reach out to your principal with any questions.