In an email sent to Stratford families by the Stratford Public Schools Technology Department Family and Community on August 12, 2026, it informed parents about its first newsletter, and provided information about its updated technology approach towards student use.
Stratford Public Schools (SPS) plans for this school year to take a different approach towards the use of technology in classrooms, based on the grade the student is in. They are committed to having a “distraction-free, highly focused learning environment.” This is based on Stratford’s own local policies and on Connecticut State Board of Education’s policy guidance on August 5, 2026. In this policy guidance, it addresses the students’ use of technology and their mental health, recommends that local districts adopt bell-to-bell personal device restrictions, and assess school screen time to optimize student academic concentration and mental health.
For students who are entering the Pre-k to 8th grade, personal devices are to be powered off at all times and be stored in student’s backpacks or lockers until the end of the school time, even through passing times. Students in high school (9th – 12th grade) will have to store their devices in classroom bins during class time, and even in study halls. The only times students will be allowed to use their devices are during lunch time and passing time between classes. The only exception for this rule is for students who have a documented IEP, 504 plan, or medical needs.
In the case of a school emergency, the protocol schools will follow is that students are not allowed to use their personal devices, as ringing phones or the glowing light from the phones can compromise the safety of students who are under lockdown. By restricting phone usage in emergencies, it prevents rumors or misinformation from being spread, and ensures that students are focused on the adults who are giving instructions on what to do. Any communication and updates during a school emergency will be sent directly to the parents from the main office of the school the student attends.
In an in-person interview with Maria, a mother who has two children attending Stratford Public Schools, she shares that she agrees with the action taken towards the restriction of personal devices because, “It will help students focus on their education and what their teacher has to say instead of being distracted by their phones in class.” She adds that she worries for her children’s safety, especially during school emergencies like one that occurred in 2024, where Stratford High School had to go under lockdown due to suspicious activity at the nearby CVS store. Such restrictions can be worrying for her, as she won’t be able to directly communicate with her children to know how they are. But despite this worry, she has trust in the town that they are taking action that is necessary to keep her children safe in school.
Additionally, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has a topic that has been heavily discussed between town officials and students as well. In the newsletter sent by the Technology Department Family and Community, they have clarified that AI tools “may be used responsibly for brainstorming and drafting, provided students maintain academic integrity and disclose its use.”
This is following the established Stratford Public Schools Policy P6141.3273, which discusses the use of AI in education. It mentions how teachers may use AI to design their lessons and brainstorm content, but must undergo training on data privacy and bias in order to do so. For students, they may use AI, but must properly cite any AI tools used in their work and are strictly prohibited from using it for plagiarism or harassment.
For parents who want to be more informed about the technology used by the district and are interested in learning how to navigate the tech world, Stratford Public Schools is planning to host two ‘Parent, Guardian, and Community Technology Nights’ for this new school year. There will be two sessions that take place in the fall or spring that will focus on how AI is used in the educational setting, how parents can support their children to build a responsible digital footprint, how to navigate through the apps and platforms their child’s classrooms use everyday, and strategies on how to maintain a healthy digital wellness.
