CELL PHONE AND ELECTRONICS POLICY
East Harlem Scholars Academies aims to foster a respectful environment focused on academic productivity. We recognize that constant access to phones and social media/texting throughout the day contributes to disengagement in class, as well as contributes to anxiety, cyberbullying, and at times, can create unsafe environments.
In May 2025, New York State passed the “Distraction-Free Schools” policy into law which prohibits students from using non-school issued internet-connected devices during the school day while on school grounds. This law applies to all school districts. Following the New York State governor’s call to limit distractions during the school day, East Harlem Scholars Academies will require students to place and lock their cell phones and any internet-connected devices into a Yondr pouch for all students in grades 5–12 beginning in the 2025–2026 school year; younger students in grades K-4 who bring cell phones and/or other internet-connected device(s) will also be required to lock their phone in a Yondr pouch.
“Phone-free environments support the mental health of students and teachers.” -Governor Kathy Hochul
For purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply:
Internet-connected device(s): smartphone [ex: iPhone, Android, etc.], tablet [ex: iPad, Amazon Fire tablet, etc.], smartwatch [ex: apple watch, etc.] or other devices capable of connecting to the internet and enabling the use to communicate and/or access content on the internet, including social media applications, including, without limitation, computing devices such as laptops, iPad and tablets; portable music and entertainment devices [ex: gaming console].
Non-internet connected device(s): cellular phone or other communication device not capable of connecting to the internet or allowing the student to access the internet.
Parent/Guardian: a student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) or person(s) in any parental or custodial relationship to the student, or any individual designated by the parent to act in the place of a parent.
School Day: The entirety of the instructional day (including all non-instructional time during the school day, such as homeroom period, classes, lunch, recess, study halls, and transitions). For field trips, it is at the discretion of the schools.
High school: Students who are dismissed earlier in the school day cannot remain in the building and use their cell phone or other electronics.
School Grounds: All school building structures [ex: classrooms, cafeteria, gym, hallways, offices, lobby, etc.], athletic playing fields, playgrounds or land contained within the real property boundary line of the school.
Students cannot use internet-enabled devices during the school day on school grounds unless such use is subject to an exception set forth in this policy. This policy does not prevent the use of (i) non-internet-enabled devices; or (ii) internet-enabled devices supplied by the school for educational services that are used for an educational purpose.
Exceptions
1. If authorized by a teacher, principal or designated adult school member for a specific educational purpose [i.e. translation services] or emergency;
2. Where necessary for the management of a student’s healthcare, documentation is required from a healthcare professional confirming such need;
3. On a case-by-case basis, upon review and determination by a school psychologist, school social work or school counsel, for a student caregiver who is routinely responsible for the care and wellbeing of a family member;
4. Where required by law.
5. Use an internet-enabled device where the use is documented on an: (a) Individualized Education Program (IEP); or (b) Section 504 Plan.
A parent/guardian may make a request under one of the above exceptions to the school principal and the director of school culture and family engagement.
Communication with students throughout the school day
To accommodate necessary communication from parent(s)/guardian(s), they should use the following methods to contact their child during school hours while adhering to this policy.
GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES AND GUARDIANS
To support our school’s cell phone/electronic policy to focus on student wellness, reduce distractions, and safety, we ask for your support in the following ways:
Please do not encourage or allow your child to call or text you during the school day to:
request early dismissal; we want students to engage in all of their classes throughout the day. Early pick up should be communicated through the main office.
request to deliver food to the school.
provide an additional cell phone/electronics.
This shared expectation between students, families and school staff will help prevent disruptions and reinforce our policy to eliminate distractions during the school day.
Student Expectations
During arrival, students are required to place and keep their cell phone/ smartwatch or another Internet-connected device in a Yondr pouch, with a staff member confirming the pouch is locked before going to class.
Headphones/earphones should not be visible during the school day.
If a phone is lost and stolen, the CST will conduct an investigation. However, the school is not responsible for lost or stolen, or damaged Yondr pouches during the school day or during school activities and events. Lost, stolen or damaged personal device(s) should be reported immediately to the director of school culture and family engagement.
For K-8 schools: The locked Yondr pouch should remain in their bookbag and placed in their locker until the end of the day.
For high school: The locked Yondr pouch remains with the student all day; this includes during lunch, recess, or other non-instructional periods.
Note: Students that have off-campus lunch privileges in grades 9-12 can unlock their Yondr phone on their way out of the building, and then re-lock it when returning to the school. Students must be off-campus during their lunch period to use their phones or other electronic devices; they cannot stay on-campus and use their phones during the instructional day.
During dismissal, staff will be available to unlock the Yondr pouches.
School Procedures for Accessing Internet-Enabled Devices During the School Day
East Harlem Scholars Academies is prohibited from suspending (community removal) a student solely for accessing internet-enabled devices in violation of the Code of Conduct. If a student violates another school rule from the Code of Conduct, while also violating this cell phone and electronics policy, suspension may be considered as a consequence.
Some uses of internet-enabled devices could/will constitute a separate violation of the Code of Conduct, in some the most serious cases, the law. [ex: use of internet-connected devices to communicate with others to plan a fight.]
Student violation of the cell phone/electronics policy
These areas below identifies areas of the policy that violate the Code of Conduct [see appendix A in the handbook]:
Having the cell phone/electronics visible in the classroom or another school space (i.e. gym, hallway, lunch, etc.).
Misuse of the Yondr pouch (i.e. attempting to unlock, writing on or damaging the pouch, etc.).
Forcefully breaking open the Yondr pouches.
There is a $10 replacement fee for damaged Yondr pouches.
Below identifies the follow-up with students and families if there are repeated violations with cell phones/electronics throughout the school day.
Offense > Action
First Occurrence
CST is alerted. The student's phone is secured by a culture support team member (CST) for the remainder of the day and returned at dismissal. The incident is documented in Dean’s List.
Second Occurrence
CST is alerted. The student's phone is secured by a culture support team member (CST) for the remainder of the day and returned at dismissal and there will be a phone call home to the family to realign on expectations. The incident is documented in Dean’s List.
Third Occurrence
CST is alerted. The student's phone is secured by a culture support team member (CST) for the remainder of the day and will be released to the student after an in-person or virtual meeting to discuss the violation of the cellphone/electronics expectations. The cell phone will only be released to an adult (21+). The incident is documented in Dean’s List.
If a parent or guardian adult cannot have the meeting then:
The phone/electronic device will be released to a 21+ adult at the end of the day on the date of the occurrence.
The student will be required to turn in their phone/electronic device during arrival until the meeting has occurred with the parent/guardian following the date of the occurrence.
The phone/electronic device will only be released to a 21+ adult at the end of the day until the meeting has occurred.
Starting with the third occurrence, students will be subject to school-based disciplinary actions that may require or include one of following:
Students’ cell phone/electronic device(s) are given to a CST member to place in a lockbox until the end of the day.
Lunch or after-school detention.
Restorative assignment [ex: read an article or watch a video and written response, project, community service].
Additional family/guardian meeting with the director of student culture or culture support team member.
Ineligibility to attend school events.
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES AND GUARDIANS
To support our school’s cell phone/electronic policy to focus on student wellness, reduce distractions, and safety, we ask for your support in the following ways:
Please do not encourage or allow your child to call or text you during the school day to:
request early dismissal; we want students to engage in all of their classes throughout the day. Early pick up should be communicated through the main office.
request to deliver food to the school.
provide an additional cell phone/electronics.
This shared expectation between students, families and school staff will help prevent disruptions and reinforce our policy to eliminate distractions during the school day.