District 51 students in Western Colorado will adjust to a big change this fall, as they will no longer carry personal smartphones and tablets during the school day.

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The rule will work a little differently for Mesa County students pre-k to 8th grade than it will for high schooler students, it will be enforced as of the first day of school which will be here in just a few months.

D51 Will Not Allow Electronic Mobile Devices

KKCO shared the announcement from District 51 after it was made official following a D51 School board meeting held at the end of May. The updated policy will not allow students to have smartphones or tablets with them during class hours. When students arrive at school for the day, the devices are to be powered off and stored in a special area. Students in pre-k to 8th grade must give up the devices until the end of the school day, while high school students will be allowed access to their devices outside of classroom hours.

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Electronic Devices No Longer Allowed During Class Hours

The new D51 policy includes more than just smartphones and tablets. Students must also be prepared to give up any smart or electronic watches, tablets, laptops, Chromebooks, virtual reality devices, wireless earbuds and earphones, cameras, audio and video recorders and players, and devices that provide hand-held communication or data storage.

How Many Students Attend District 51 Schools

Western Colorado's District 51 includes 46 schools and programs. The district includes a population of more than 20,000 students and more than 3,500 teachers. The district accommodates 18 different languages.

Colorado's District 51 Students Must Give Up These Devices During School Hours

Students at District 51 Schools in Western Colorado will say goodbye to the following devices during classroom hours beginning at the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

LOOK: Colorado's 12 Best Public Schools in Mesa County

Did you know there are 54 public schools in Mesa County, Colorado? Which ones are doing the best job teaching our students? Keep reading to find out which schools have the best reading and math proficiency scores and serve the most students.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

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The number of students enrolled in Western Colorado schools is rising, but which schools currently host the most students? Scroll through Colorado's District 51 schools below and compare them to our neighbors in Delta and Montrose. Keep going to find out which school is on top.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams