Cell Phone and Electronics Policy
East Harlem Scholars Academies aims to foster a respectful and academically academic 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 electronic devices will also be required to lock their phone in a Yondr pouch.
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 that 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 not 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 well-being 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.
Main office telephone lines
Scholars I
(212) 897-2897
Scholars II
(212) 348-2518
Scholars High School
(212) 897-2898
Directors of School Operations
Ms. Hannah
bhannah@eastharlemscholars.org
Mr. Cleckley
ccleckley@eastharlemscholars.org
Ms. Robinson
vrobinson@eastharlemscholars.org
Director of School Culture and Family Engagement
Ms. Holly Smith
mhsmith@eastharlemscholars.org
Mr. Wright
kwright@eastharlemscholars.org
Mr. MacDonna
[Operations Manager]
gmacdonna@eastharlemscholars.org
Guidance for families/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; students that leave early often may fall behind in learning and class assignments which will affect their overall grade and learning process.
Early pick up/dismissal should be communicated through the main office in advance, when possible.
request to deliver food to the school.
Student Expectations
During arrival, students are required to place and keep their cell phone and smartwatch in a Yondr pouch, with a staff member confirming the pouch is locked before going to class.
Yondr pouches will be kept in bookbags in their lockers.
The school is not responsible for lost, 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.
The Yondr pouch remains with the student all day, however locked; this includes during lunch, recess, or other non-instructional days.
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 this 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.
2 Verbal warnings and phone call home; student’s phone is secured by a culture support team (CST) for the remainder of the day, and returned at dismissal. The incident is documented in Dean’s List.
If the above happens more than twice, the student’s phone will be secured by staff for the remainder of the day; the student's family/guardian will be called and requested to pick up the phone at school, as well as meet with a culture support team (CST) member to discuss the violation of cell phone/electronics expectations. A designated adult (age 21+) can be identified by the parent/guardian to pick up the phone.
Students who consistently violate the cell phone and electronics policy will be subject to school-specific disciplinary actions that may require/include:
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.
Guidance for families/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
This shared expectation between students, families and school staff will help prevent disruptions and reinforce our policy to eliminate distractions during the school day.