Students and Personal Electronic Devices

5695 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. Other personal electronic devices include devices which are not capable of connecting to the internet and accessing content on the internet, fitness trackers, wireless headphones and earbuds, e-readers, voice recorders, non-internet-capable celular phones, cameras and music devices.  These devices can create significant distraction to the school environment, negatively impact student mental health, contribute to disciplinary infractions, and reduce student engagement.  Additionaly, in an emergency, the use of personal electronic devices can distract students from fo lowing 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. 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 and persons in parental relation may contact their children by ca ling the school office or using the student’s district-provided email address. The district wi l notify parents in writing of the communication protocol at the beginning of each school year and upon enrolment. Such written notice may be provided via electronic distribution.  

Device Access and Storage

As required by Education Law §2803 , this policy prohibits student use of internet-enabled devices during the school day on school grounds (i.e., 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).

1. At the elementary school level, any device that is brought to school must be turned off and kept in the student’s backpack.

2. At the middle school level, student devices must be turned off and stored in the student’s locker.

3. At the high school level, student devices must be turned off and stored in the student’s locker or backpack.

Students are discouraged from bringing other personal electronic devices to school.  If students do bring such devices to school, they must be stored for the entire school day in backpacks or lockers, and they must be turned off and not used during the school day unless permission is granted by the building principal for a specific educational purpose.  Administrators and staff may also restrict the use of electronic devices during school events and activities held off school grounds.

Exceptions for Specific Purposes

Use of internet-enabled devices must be permitted where included in a student’s Individualized Education Program or Section 504 plan. Parents must request an exception for their children to use internet-enabled devices during the school day for other purposes permitted by law other than those required by a student’s Individualized Education Program or Section 504 plan. Requests must be made to the Building Principal, and for 5695 1 of 35695 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.
• The student uses the device to access the Internet or authorized applications through the district’s network, under the terms of policy 4526, Computer Use in Instruction.

Under any of these exceptions, devices may only be used for the purposes outlined in the exception, after which the device must be turned off and stored in accord with this policy’s Device Access and Storage section.

Enforcement and Consequences

Enforcement of this policy is chiefly the responsibility of building administrative staff; however, a l designated employees are expected to assist in enforcement.  Students wi l be reminded of this policy regularly and consistently, especia ly at the start of the school year and after returning from breaks.

For students out of compliance with this policy, the device wi l be confiscated and held in the school office until the end of the school day and the student’s parent wi l be notified. For students out of compliance on multiple occasions, the parent or person in parental relation may be required to retrieve the device. The district wi l exercise reasonable care to maintain the security of devices that are held by the district but cannot guarantee the devices wi l be secure.  

Administrators wi l discuss the aims of this policy with students and their parents, the benefits of a distraction-free environment, the reasons the student had difficulty fo lowing 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, 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, including but not limited to insubordination, and in some instances, the law. The district will cooperate with law enforcement officials as appropriate.

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 wi l 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.

Adoption date: July 1, 2025

Annual Report on Cell Phone Policy Enforcement
2025-2026 School Year

In accordance with New York State Education Law §2803(7), the Lynbrook Public Schools are providing this annual report regarding the enforcement of the District’s cell phone policy during the 2025-2026 school year.

We are pleased to report that there were no incidents requiring reporting in any of the categories identified by New York State for purposes of this annual review. As a result, no students received out-of-school suspensions related to violations of the District’s cell phone policy, and there is no disciplinary demographic data to report or analyze for disparities in enforcement.

This positive outcome reflects the shared commitment of our students, families, faculty, and staff to maintaining a focused and productive learning environment. Clear expectations, consistent communication, and strong partnerships between home and school have helped students understand the importance of minimizing distractions and remaining actively engaged throughout the school day.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our parents and guardians for their ongoing support of the District’s expectations. Your partnership plays an important role in helping students develop responsible habits, strengthen peer connections, and remain fully present in their learning experiences.

At Lynbrook Public Schools, our goal is to create school environments where students can learn, collaborate, and thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We remain committed to supporting student success while fostering the values outlined in our Profile of the Owl, including responsibility, engagement, and respect for others.

This report reflects more than compliance with a policy. It highlights the positive culture that exists throughout our schools, where students make responsible choices, families partner with educators, and learning remains the focus of the school day. These collective efforts are one of the many reasons we are #OwlProud.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to keep students at the center of everything we do.

Lynbrook Public Schools
Board of Education and District Administration