Information About HB 2299

As required by state law, the Board of Education approved Board Policy JCDC: Student Personal Electronic Communications Devices.

Click here to view policy JCDC as adopted by the Board of Education.

Policy JCDC sets forth a “bell-to-bell” ban. Students are prohibited from using or accessing personal electronic communication devices during the school day while on district owned or operated property, except as expressly permitted by this policy or by law.

As defined by the policy: “personal electronic communication device” is any wireless electronic communication device that both provides for voice, text, or video communication between two or more parties, including, but not limited to, a mobile or cellular phone, tablet, computer, watch, wireless headphones or earbuds, text messaging device, or personal digital assistant; and is not owned or issued to students by the school district.”

The policy further outlines device storage, definitions, permitted exceptions, enforcement and disciplinary action.

Student handbooks now reflect the language of this bell-to-bell personal electronic device policy, as approved by the Board. Click here to review the student handbook.

Following the passage of House Bill 2299 by the Kansas Legislature and signed into law by Governor Laura Kelly, the Shawnee Mission School District is updating how staff communicate with students in digital spaces. These changes support compliance with the new law while also protecting both staff and students online.

What's Changing as of the 2026—2027 School Year

SMSD has rolled out ParentSquare as its districtwide communication platform for the 2026-2027 school year. ParentSquare offers district-monitored messaging, translation support, and centralized communication in one place. Staff may also continue to communicate with students through their district email accounts.

Beginning Aug. 7, 2026, staff will be able to send one-way messages to middle and high school students through ParentSquare, with two-way communication features phased in later in the year. Additional approved platforms include Bound, Hudl, CutTime, Band.

What This Means for Families

●      Staff may not communicate with or engage with students on social media.

●      Staff cannot require students to use social media for any assignment, project, or extracurricular activity.

●      Official school and district social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn) are approved and monitored by the district's Communications Department and may only be used for public, one-way updates such as announcements, schedules, and student celebrations.