5695 Students and Personal Electronic Devices
STUDENTS AND PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES
The Board of Education recognizes that students may have personal electronic devices that can perform different functions. Such devices include “internet-enabled devices” defined as: any smartphone, tablet, smartwatch or other device capable of connecting to the internet and enabling the user to access content on the internet, including social media applications, but do not include any such device registered and subject to the district’s Acceptable Use Policy Guidelines (4526R) for educational purposes. These devices, when used for non-educational purposes, can create significant distraction to the school environment, negatively impact student mental health, contribute to disciplinary infractions, and reduce student engagement. Additionally, in an emergency, the use of personal electronic devices can distract students from following the directions of staff or emergency responders, contribute to the spread of misinformation, create congestion in the emergency response system, and interfere with the district’s emergency response protocols.
Generally, the district is not responsible for stolen, lost or damaged personal electronic devices brought to school.
Communication with Parents/Persons in Parental Relation
During the school day, to minimize distractions, parents (which, for purposes of this policy, includes persons in parental relation) may contact their children via the following methods: connecting with the main office or the child’s district-provided email address (secondary students only). Students may contact their parents by the same methods above. The district will notify parents in writing of the communication protocol at the beginning of each school year and upon enrollment.
Device Access and Storage
As required by Education Law §2803, this policy prohibits student use of internet-enabled devices during the school day (including all classes, homeroom periods, lunch, recess, study halls, and passing time) on school grounds (any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground, or land contained within the boundary of the school or district), unless under an exception (e.g., IEP/Section 504 or as permitted below).
Students are discouraged from bringing non-registered internet-enabled devices to school, as defined above. If students do bring such devices to school, they must be stored for the entire school day and they must be silenced and not used during the school day, unless permission is granted by the school.
- At the lower and upper elementary school level, students are discouraged from bringing devices to school. Any device that is brought to school must be silenced and kept in the student’s designated cubby.
- At the middle school level, student devices must be silenced and stored in the student’s designated locker.
- At the high school level, student devices must be silenced and stored in the student’s designated locker, device caddy or individual lockable pouch.
Exceptions for Specific Purposes
Use of internet-enabled devices must be permitted where included in a student’s Individualized Education Program, Section 504 plan, or where required by law. Additionally, the district permits the use of internet-enabled devices in the event of an emergency, and under the following circumstances:
- Where necessary to manage a student’s healthcare (e.g., diabetes, asthma, medication, etc.) based on medical documentation specifying why the device must be used. This must include documentation from an appropriate healthcare professional;
- For translation services, upon prior written authorization by a principal or the school district; and/or
- On a case-by-case basis, upon review and determination by a school psychologist, school social worker or school counselor, and approved in writing by the building principal and/or their designee, for a student caregiver who is routinely responsible for the care and wellbeing of a family member.
Parents may request an exception for their children to use internet-enabled devices during the school day as listed above. If not otherwise specified above, requests must be made in writing to the Building Principal.
Students may also be permitted to use their internet-enabled devices during the school day on school grounds for specific educational purposes, if the following criteria are met:
- In the case of their personal computer device (such as a laptop or tablet); secondary students have registered this device in accordance with district procedures, as per the district’s Acceptable Use Policy Guidelines (4526R); and/or
- With administrative approval, the teacher has authorized the use of specific devices for a particular activity, after which the device must be stowed per this policy.
Under any of these exceptions, devices may only be used for the purposes outlined in the exception, and the device must be silenced and put away when not in use, to the extent compatible with the reason for the exception.
Enforcement, Consequences and Reporting
Enforcement of this policy is chiefly the responsibility of building administrative staff; however, all designated employees are expected to assist in enforcement. Students will be reminded of this policy regularly and consistently, especially at the start of the school year and after returning from breaks.
For students out of compliance with this policy, consequences will be assigned, as appropriate. Generally, students who use devices without permission will be asked to put them away. Continued violations may lead to administrative confiscation of the device and require parent pickup. Further disciplinary procedures will be outlined in the district’s Code of Conduct and student handbook in each school.
Administrators will also discuss the aims of this policy with students and their parents, the benefits of a distraction-free environment, the reasons the student had difficulty following this policy, and how the district can help the student contribute to a distraction-free environment.
The district may not impose suspension from school if the sole grounds for the suspension is that the student accessed an internet-enabled device as prohibited by this policy. However, the district may utilize consequences under the district’s Code of Conduct and student handbook in each school. The district may also utilize assignments on the detrimental impact of social media on mental health, smartphones in school, or other relevant topics.
Some uses of personal electronic devices may constitute a violation of the school district Code of Conduct or other district policies, and in some instances, the law. The district will cooperate with law enforcement officials as appropriate in accordance with the District’s Code of Conduct.
Beginning September 1, 2026 and annually thereafter, the district will be required to publish an annual report on its website detailing the enforcement of this policy over the past year, including non-identifiable demographic information of students who have faced disciplinary action for non-compliance with this policy, and an analysis of any demographic disparities in enforcement of this policy. If a statistically significant disparate enforcement impact is identified, the report will include a plan to mitigate such disparate enforcement.
Policy Distribution and Translation
As required by law, the district will post this policy in a clearly visible and accessible location on its website. Upon request by a student or parent, the district will translate this policy into any of the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English proficient individuals in the state, as identified by the most recent American community survey published by the U.S. Census bureau.
The district will also include this information, or a plain language summary, in each school’s student handbook.
Cross-ref:
- 4526, Computer Use in Instruction
- 4526.1, Internet Safety
- 5300, Code of Conduct
Ref: Education Law §2803
- Price v. New York City Board of Education, 51 A.D.3d 277, lv. to appeal denied, 11 N.Y.3d 702 (2008) (District may ban possession of cell phones on school property)
NYSED, Prohibition of Cell Phones and Electronic Devices in New York State Assessments, www.nysed.gov/educator-integrity/prohibition-cell-phones-and-electronic-devices-new-york-state-assessments
Adoption date: July 17, 2025