Student and Personal Electronic Devices - Draft Policy 5695

  • Note about this version: The draft policy language below for 5695: STUDENTS AND PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES is a web-published version of the clean-copy draft document shared at the Special Meeting of the Rochester Board of Education on June 10, 2025.

    Students, families, and staff can also download clean or tracked-changes versions of this draft policy, as shared at a Special Meeting of the Rochester Board of Education on June 10, 2025:

    Student and Personal Electronic Devices (5695)

    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 the school, and/or emailing the appropriate school personnel. If allowed pursuant to the protocols of each specific school, students may contact their parents by calling from the school. 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 a school or district or BOCES facility), unless under an exception (i.e., IEP/Section 504 or as permitted below). Students are discouraged from bringing electronic devices to school. Generally, the District is not responsible for stolen, lost, or damaged personal electronic devices brought to school.

    1. If students at the elementary school level bring devices to school, the devices must be silenced and turned over to the appropriate or designated school personnel.
    2. If students at the middle school level bring devices to school, the devices must be silenced and stored in appropriate and designated storage containers.
    3. If students at the high school level bring devices to school, the devices must be silenced and stored in appropriate and designated storage containers.

    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:

    1. Where necessary to manage a student’s healthcare (i.e., diabetes, asthma, medication, etc.);
    2. For translation services; and/or
    3. 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:

    1. The student has registered the device with the District, in accordance with District procedures.
    2. 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.
    3.  The student uses the device to access the Internet or authorized applications through the District’s network, under the terms of policy 4526, Internet 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, the school must follow the disciplinary protocol outlined in the matrix under “Portable Electronic Device Use at Unauthorized Times” in policy 1400, Code of Conduct.

    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 will 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.

    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 will 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.