NEW YORK — When New York City public school students return to school on Thursday, they will be following new rules to keep their cell phones off from the first bell of the day to the last.
As part of the new policy, schools are required to provide at least one method for families to contact their children in case of an emergency. The new policy will be in effect for 1,800 public schools citywide.
The cell phone ban will also target all internet-enabled devices that are not school-issued, like a smart watch, computer or tablet. The ban also applies to game consoles and MP3 players, according to the NYC Department of Education.
The cellphone ban will include exceptions for students with disabilities and medical reasons, officials said.
“Our kids are in school to learn, but, too often, cell phones are used in manners that are distracting, degrading, and dangerous to our young people,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement in July when the ban was authorized. “This new cellphone policy is the next step in ensuring students are given the best shot to succeed in school.”
How phones will be collected and stored during the day will be up to individual school principals, officials said.
Students who don’t follow the new rules will be subject to escalating interventions and disciplinary actions. Find your school’s specific policy here.
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