Northville Student Email and Devices Policy Update

Consistent with our current Board Policy 2143, K-8 students will not be allowed to carry or use cell phones or other personal electronic devices, including smart watches and other wireless device connections, during the school day unless allowed in special circumstances by their teacher or building administration.  Phones are available in the office of each school and in each classroom, should a student need to contact their parent/guardian. If families believe that their child needs access to a cell phone before or after school, it will be the student's responsibility to ensure that their phone remains stored away from the classroom while they are at school.

Personal Electronic Device Expectations 

• Cellphones and other personal electronic devices, including Smart Watches, are expected to be powered off and in your backpack during the school day.
• The school day is 8:45-3:45. Therefore, electronics must be powered off and in your backpack by 8:41 (warning bell).

***NEW!!!! Changes in the 2026-27 School Year

School-Issued Devices: Every student will be provided with a school device (a Chromebook) to ensure equitable access to the digital curricular resources during instructional time. These devices will be the only devices allowed in classrooms; students will no longer be allowed to use personal laptops in class. Like a library book, Chromebooks can be checked out through the media center if a device is needed at home. 

Reminder: The school prohibits the use of any video device in or near any restroom or other location where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Taking or transmitting images or messages during testing is also prohibited.

Enhancing Student Digital Safety and Email Settings for K-8

At Northville Public Schools, we are continuously looking for ways to improve our students' digital learning environment. Based on valuable feedback from our community and a thorough review of educational best practices, we are updating our student email and device policies for the upcoming school year.

What is Changing?

Beginning August 24, we are implementing two key updates to protect our younger learners and enhance classroom focus:

• Restricted K-8 Email: All PreK-8 and Cooke student email accounts will be limited to internal communication only. Students will only be able to send and receive emails to and from school-related domains (like @northvilleschools.net and @northvilleschools.org).
• District-Provided Devices Only: Students will no longer be permitted to use personal laptops in class. Only district-provided devices will be used in classrooms.

This device transition aligns with a new state mandate. On February 10, 2026, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan legislative package (Senate Bill 495 and House Bill 4141) requiring all Michigan public schools to prohibit personal wireless communication devices during instructional time for the 2026-27 school year.

What This Means for Families

• Daytime Communication: If you currently email your child during the school day via their student account, you will no longer be able to do so from a personal or work email address.
• Alternative Option: If you need to communicate with your child during the day, please contact the main office. If you wish to maintain a direct email line to your child, you may set up and you will be responsible for monitoring a personal, family-managed email address for them on an external platform (such as Gmail or Outlook). 

We appreciate your partnership and shared commitment to creating a safe, focused, and secure digital space for our students.