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Can a school keep your phone forever?

riaclu.org - KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: Students & Technology | ACLU of Rhode Island

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Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the rights of K-12 public school students in RI as they relate to technology and social media. Rules for colleges and private schools will differ. Additionally, public school district policies on these issues can vary greatly between individual districts. More information about these policies can generally be found in your school’s student handbook.

Is my school allowed to monitor or censor my online activity outside of school?

What about using my school-provided chromebook at home?

Can I get in trouble at school for something I text, email or post online while I’m there?

Can my school force me to log in to my personal social accounts or add someone to my contacts?

Can my school’s cloud service sell my personal data?

Can my school take my phone? If school officials confiscate my phone, are they allowed to search it?

Can I get in trouble for “sexting”?

What are the laws regarding cyberbullying?

IS MY SCHOOL ALLOWED TO MONITOR OR CENSOR MY ONLINE ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL?

In general, your school cannot censor things that you post during off-school hours while using a personal email address or account, and on a private computer with a private internet connection. That includes the right for you to share information on a blog or via social media or personal email that is critical of the school or school officials. However, some courts have ruled that students can be disciplined for off-campus online conduct if it creates a “substantial and material” disruption to the school environment. Here in RI, for example, the Department of Education ruled that a student could be disciplined for writing a sexually explicit song about a teacher and posting it online when copies of the song were then brought to school by other students. If your post demonstrates that you broke school rules, the school can discipline you. For example, you could get in trouble if you post a video of yourself and friends smoking on school property. On the other hand, we successfully represented a student who was disciplined for circulating a photo of a teacher unlawfully smoking on school property.

WHAT ABOUT USING MY SCHOOL-PROVIDED CHROMEBOOK AT HOME?

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Many schools provide free laptops or Chromebooks for students to take home, and school officials often claim the right to have access to all the information they contain, including the sites you have visited, emails you have sent, and so on. While these computers are school property and, therefore, school officials have certain powers over how you use them, the ACLU believes that you do not completely give up your privacy rights in using these computers, especially if they are given to students and their families for uses beyond schoolwork.

CAN I GET IN TROUBLE AT SCHOOL FOR SOMETHING I TEXT, EMAIL OR POST ONLINE WHILE I’M THERE?

As a public school student, you have a constitutional right to free speech. You have the right to express your opinions and beliefs in school, even if they are controversial, as long as you do so in a way that doesn’t disrupt class or other school-related activities. However, most schools have internet usage and cell phone policies governing the school day. If you are using a school computer or email account, school officials can monitor your activity. Any online activity using school computers, internet access, or email accounts that creates a disruptive learning environment, or violates others’ rights could result in disciplinary action. Also, some schools have rules limiting the use of cell phones during the school day, and those rules can be enforced. No. A state law enacted in 2014 prohibits any school official or employee from requesting or requiring a student to 1) divulge their personal social media account info – or 2) add someone to their social media contacts. For example, a teacher cannot ask you to show them your private Instagram account.

CAN MY SCHOOL’S CLOUD SERVICE SELL MY PERSONAL DATA?

No. A 2014 state law limits the use of student data by cloud computing service providers used by K-12 schools. Under the law, student data is solely to be used for the purpose of providing the cloud service. The law also specifically prohibits the use or sale of student data for commercial purposes, including advertising.

CAN MY SCHOOL TAKE MY PHONE? IF SCHOOL OFFICIALS CONFISCATE MY PHONE, ARE THEY ALLOWED TO SEARCH IT?

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If you violated school policy governing cell phone usage during school hours, then your school can probably temporarily confiscate your phone. However, the school is generally not allowed to access the personal information on your phone even if they lawfully confiscate it. If they take your phone for a particular reason – for example, another student claims you sent them an inappropriate text message during the school day – even if they may be allowed to check for that particular message, they should not be checking for additional information, such as your contact list, photos, etc. Keep in mind that if a school official asks for permission to search your phone, you do not have to give your permission.

CAN I GET IN TROUBLE FOR “SEXTING”?

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 in Rhode Island to engage in “sexting.” That term is defined in Rhode Island law as the transmission, via cell phone or similar devices, of certain nude images of yourself – specifically, graphic photos of your genitals or pubic area. If the act of sexting causes a disruption to your school’s learning environment, the school can discipline you. RI law states that sexting constitutes a status offense – which means you can be sent to Family Court to face a judge, but you will not face criminal penalties or a prison sentence. However, because of the way the law was written, it technically allows minors who engage in sexting to be charged with child pornography instead. The ACLU believes such a charge could be legally challenged.

riaclu.org - KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: Students & Technology | ACLU of Rhode Island

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