South Fayette Township School District Cell Phone Policy (2026)

South Fayette Township School District in Allegheny County enrolled 3,551 students in 2024-25 according to federal data. Its administration called the 2026-27 change "a culture intervention."

South Fayette phone rules today

Minutes of the August 18, 2026 committee meeting record a presentation on Electronic Device Policy Changes for 2026-2027. Bell to bell means any personal electronic device, including smartphones, smartwatches for grades 6 to 12, earbuds, AI glasses, personal tablets and laptops, is prohibited for use during the entire instructional day, and may not be used in hallways, restrooms, common areas or locker rooms.

"There is no change for students in K-8 as they are to keep devices [in] their lockers. Students in grades 9-12 are to keep devices in their bookbags." Exceptions cover medical needs and IEP or 504 accommodations. The same minutes list a recommendation to approve revised Policy 237, Electronic Devices, with "Voice Vote - All Yes."

Why South Fayette did it

"It is rare that we have a student discipline situation that doesn't involve something that was said or done over electronic devices," the presentation said, adding, "It is a culture intervention, it's not an academic intervention." Staff expected an adjustment period with more discipline and student frustration. Only school-issued devices get district Wi-Fi. In an emergency parents call the main office, and high schoolers have phones in their backpacks if needed.

What Act 117 requires of South Fayette by 2027-28

Gov. Josh Shapiro approved SB 1014 on October 26, 2026. It is Act 117 of 2026, and it took effect that day. The text is Printer's No. 1697 on palegis.us. Every school entity must adopt a bell-to-bell policy by the start of the 2027-28 school year.

Act 117 requires	South Fayette today	What changes by 2027-28
No student use for the whole school day, including homeroom, lunch, recess and passing time	Bell to bell for the instructional day (2026-27)	Confirm the rule covers the whole school day, including lunch.
The board decides how possession is restricted (taking phones is not required)	K-8 lockers; 9-12 bookbags	Aligned: Act 117 lets boards decide possession.
Required exceptions: documented medical need of the student or an immediate family member, IEP or 504, English learner translation, limited teacher-approved instructional use	Medical needs and IEP/504	Add English learner translation and an immediate family member's medical need.
Optional: a principal may approve another exception for up to one school day, with notice to the superintendent within 5 days after	Not stated	Teacher use must meet Act 117's three conditions; other exceptions capped at one day.
Written notice each year and on enrollment: a staffed way to reach your child, and how to sign up for emergency notifications	Parents call the main office	Written notice each year and on enrollment of a staffed contact method and emergency sign-up.
Tell families, teachers and students about the policy each year; verify to PDE within 5 business days that it is posted online	Revised Policy 237 (Aug. 2026)	Board policy posted, announced each year and verified to PDE.

Where LockedIn fits

South Fayette already keeps high school phones in bookbags all day. LockedIn locks students' own phones from an admin dashboard with nothing to collect, so the bookbag rule becomes enforceable without staff checks, and it runs alongside the K-8 lockers.

Act 117 has no general student emergency-use exception. The closest tool is the optional principal exception, which is capped at one school day and reported to the superintendent within five days afterward. LockedIn's Emergency Mode unlocks every phone on campus at once, so districts should have counsel review how that fits their emergency procedures and Act 117's exception rules.

Private and independent schools in South Fayette

Act 117's definition of "school entity" includes private schools, approved private schools and nonpublic schools, so South Fayette's private, independent and parochial schools need their own bell-to-bell policy by 2027-28. For those schools, the governing body plays the role the superintendent plays in a district, including receiving notice of any principal-approved exception.

Draft a policy that tracks Act 117's required exceptions and family notices with our policy generator.