Tuscarora School District Cell Phone Policy (2026)

Tuscarora School District in Franklin County enrolled 2,182 students in 2024-25 according to federal data. Its high school went bell to bell for 2026-27.

Tuscarora phone rules today

Tri-State Alert reported on July 29, 2026 that, "in order to minimize distractions and promote a focused learning environment in our classrooms, as well as align with upcoming state requirements," James Buchanan High School students have no access to personal electronic devices from the beginning of Homeroom/Activity Period until the end of the school day. Students who need to call home ask a teacher or advisor to go to the office, and ill students go to the nurse.

Exceptions cover documented medical conditions and an IEP or 504 plan that specifies device use. "Electronic devices may be used for other reasons determined appropriate by the building principal."

Consequences

Non-compliance is treated as insubordination. A first offense sends the phone to the office with a conference and notice to parents; a second requires parent pickup; a third brings in-school suspension and a phone plan; a fourth brings more in-school suspension and the phone held in the office on arrival each day.

What Act 117 requires of Tuscarora 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	Tuscarora today	What changes by 2027-28
No student use for the whole school day, including homeroom, lunch, recess and passing time	Bell to bell at JBHS (2026-27)	Aligned at the high school; extend to all schools.
The board decides how possession is restricted (taking phones is not required)	No access; storage not stated	State the possession method.
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, IEP and 504	Add family medical and English learner translation.
Optional: a principal may approve another exception for up to one school day, with notice to the superintendent within 5 days after	Principal may approve other uses	Teacher use must meet Act 117's three conditions; other exceptions capped at one day. Open-ended principal approval must be narrowed.
Written notice each year and on enrollment: a staffed way to reach your child, and how to sign up for emergency notifications	Calls through the 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	2026-27 JBHS handbook	Board policy posted, announced each year and verified to PDE.

Where LockedIn fits

Tuscarora went bell to bell to align with state requirements. LockedIn locks students' own phones from an admin dashboard with nothing to collect, so the rule holds without a daily office hand-in for repeat offenders.

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 Mercersburg

Act 117's definition of "school entity" includes private schools, approved private schools and nonpublic schools, so Mercersburg'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.