Digital Safety and Responsibility at Briarcrest

Our PTA is committed to fostering a school community that promotes healthy digital habits, age-appropriate technology use, and learning environments where students can thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally. We believe this work is most effective when families, schools, and districts collaborate with shared goals and clear expectations.

On this page, you’ll find information about initiatives our PTA supports to help families navigate digital safety and advocate for school policies that prioritize student engagement and well-being. These efforts are not about blaming or shaming technology use, but about creating thoughtful, developmentally appropriate boundaries that support kids as they grow.

For more information about what the PTA is doing to encourage digital safety for our students, email

Carlene at bcfundraising@briarcrestpta.org

Take the Pledge: Wait Until 8th

The Briarcrest PTA supports school environments that prioritize student learning, focus, and well-being by reducing distractions from personal devices and social media. Research and experience show that delaying smartphone use and limiting access to personal devices during the school day help students stay engaged in learning, build stronger in-person social skills, and reduce unnecessary social pressures. Families play a key role in making these efforts successful, and choosing to delay providing a smartphone sends a clear, collective message that these priorities matter.

Take an important step now and sign the Wait Until 8th pledge. Wait Until 8th lets parents and guardians band together in delaying giving their children smartphones until 8th grade. The more families that agree to wait, the less peer pressure kids experience to have a smartphone. If 10 families sign from your student's grade level at Briarcrest, you will be notified that the pledge is active and you will receive the emails of the other family members.

Proudly, 4th grade at Briarcrest has an active pledge!

Effective Bell-to-Bell Smart Phone Restrictions

The Wait Until 8th pledge is one part of a broader effort led by a group of Briarcrest parents who are advocating for stronger, more effective bell-to-bell smartphone policies at the secondary school level. This group is currently focused on working with the district to turn the existing “Off and Away” smartphone expectation into a clear, consistent policy and to ensure teachers have the tools and support they need to implement it successfully. Feedback from recent community forums shows that enforcement varies widely and that many teachers feel under-supported.

Watch this space for updates on policies and more opportunities to get involved!

Parents who are interested in learning more or joining this advocacy effort are encouraged to contact Carlene at bcfundraising@briarcrestpta.org

Current Updates and Actions

January 13, 2025

Action 1: Submit feedback encouraging a stronger and more effective strategy regarding the district's "Off and Away Agreement." Click here for more information and scroll to the bottom to submit feedback

Action 2: Email stakeholders to share your device-related concerns and ask that they continue to consider the purchase of additional technology to assist in the successful implementation of the off and away expectation

public.info@ssd412.org - Rachel Belfield

brian.schultz@ssd412.org - Assistant Superintendent

school.board@ssd412.org - School Board
MReiman@washingtonea.org - President of the Seattle Education Association

Sample Language

I’m grateful for the ongoing collaboration between SEA, the district, and families around the phone policy. As conversations continue this year, I hope the board will prioritize solutions that support staff, reduce enforcement challenges, and create consistent expectations for students across all schools.
Thank you for the work underway around cell phone policies. I encourage the district to seriously consider funding and piloting additional supports—such as Yondr pouches or similar systems—that have been successful in neighboring districts. Parent input is critical, and I hope our voices will help move this conversation toward action.
As a parent, I’m deeply concerned about the impact of cell phones on student focus, mental health, and learning. I appreciate that the district and SEA are studying this issue and would strongly support investments in tools or systems that make the “off and away” policy easier to implement equitably across schools.