ICHABOD CRANE 5695
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 supplied by the district for educational purposes. These devices 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: calling or emailing the school office, the district-provided email address. Students may contact their parents by calling from the school main office. 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, summer school, homeroom periods, lunch, recess, study halls, passing time, detention, MS extended day, and homework center) on school grounds (any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground, or land contained within the boundary of a school or district or BOCES facility), unless under an exception (e.g., IEP/Section 504 or as permitted below). Access to devices during extra curricular activities and athletics is at the discretion of the club advisor or coach.
- At the primary school level, students are discouraged from bringing devices to school. Any device that is brought to school must be silenced and kept in backpacks.
- At the middle school level, student devices must be silenced and stored in student lockers.
- 3. At the high school level, student devices must be silenced and stored in: student lockers.
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.);
- For translation services; and/or
- For students who are routinely responsible for the care and wellbeing of a family member (on a case-by-case basis, upon review and determination by a school psychologist, school social worker, or school counselor).
Parents may request an exception for their children to use internet-enabled devices during the school day as listed above. Requests must be made to the Building Principal, and for healthcare exceptions, must include documentation from an appropriate healthcare professional.
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:
- 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.
The District has an obligation to comply with New York State Education Law Section 2803, which creates “Bell-to-Bell” restrictions on internet connected devices, including cellular phones. If students are caught with their cell phones/internet connected device in a manner contrary to District policy and the law, the following consequences/steps will be taken. Violations may include, but may not necessarily be limited to, cell phones being out in class, seen on a student’s person (i.e., sticking out of a student’s pocket), or evidence of a violation based on parent/guardian notification or another student’s messages/posts. Referrals will be written for each offense. The consequences set forth below shall serve as the District’s approach to responding to violations of the State-mandated “Bell-to-Bell” restrictions; however, the District may, in its discretion, respond to infractions in any of the following ways or in other ways consistent with its Code of Conduct and the law.
First Offense:
- Send student to office
- Warning
- Parent/Guardian called
- Phone held in the office and student picks it up at the end of the day
Second Offense:
- Send student to office
- Parent/Guardian called
- Lunch detention (2)
- Phone held in the office and Parent/Guardian pick up phone
Third Offense:
- Send student to office
- Parent/Guardian called
- After school detention (1)
- Phone held in the office and Parent/Guardian pick up phone
Fourth Offense
- ○ Send student to office
- Parent/Guardian called
- Phone held in the office and Parent/Guardian pick up phone
- Mandatory phone check-in and storage in the Main Office: five (5) school days.
- After school detentions (2)
- Lunch detentions (2)
Fifth Offense
- Send student to office
- Parent/Guardian called
- Phone held in the office and Parent/Guardian pick up phone
- Mandatory phone check-in and storage in the Main Office: ten (10) school days.
- After school detentions (3)
- Lunch detentions (5)
Sixth Offense and beyond
- Discretion of principal
- Possible consequences: Mandatory phone check-ins (indefinite), lunch detentions, after school detentions, parent/guardian conference, etc.
Communication protocols for students to contact home and parents/guardians to contact school
- Phones are available in the main office and counseling offices for students to use to call home.
- Parents/Guardians can call the main office and counseling offices to get messages to students.
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 out-of-school 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, including detention, in-school suspension, and exclusion from extracurricular activities. 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.
Beginning September 1, 2026 and annually thereafter, the district will 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.
Electronic Devices and Testing
To ensure the integrity of testing, in accordance with state guidelines, students may not bring cell phones or other electronic devices into classrooms or other exam locations during all testing. Test proctors, monitors and school officials have the right to collect cell phones and other prohibited electronic devices prior to the start of the test and to hold them for the duration of the test taking time. Admission to the test will be prohibited to any student who has a cell phone or other electronic device in their possession and does not relinquish it.
Students with Individualized Education Plans, Section 504 Plans, or documentation from medical practitioners specifically requiring use of electronic devices may do so as specified.
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 student/family handbooks.
Cross-ref:
4526, Computer Use in Instruction
4526.1, Internet Safety
5310, 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-stat e-assessments
Effective Date: August 19, 2025