NEW YORK (WABC) — Students returning back to school in New York this year will be without phones under a statewide ban.<\/p>\n
The ban requires students from kindergarten through 12th grade to disconnect from electronics while on school grounds.<\/p>\n
Students will still be able to use school-issued devices such as laptops and Chromebooks.<\/p>\n
Each Department of Education school, along with its administration, was required to draft a written policy that would take effect the first day of school.<\/p>\n
Students in Mount Vernon and Yonkers will be the first to experience the rollout Wednesday as they return to school.<\/p>\n
Highschool students will use Yondr pouches, lockable cases that secure students cellphones at the start of the day.<\/p>\n
The pouch can remain with students and will be unlocked at dismissal. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade will use lockboxes, classroom caddies or secure lockers.<\/p>\n
Mark Rampersant, security director for the NYC Department of Education. explained how communication will work in real time.<\/p>\n
“Expectation is clear for all of our schools. The schools have to provide the parents with a working number that they can call – and get a live person who can get a message to the child, who can bring the child to the phone to call mom back. But as it relates to respective emergencies, every one of our schools is going to send out text messages or emails in real time apprising the families of whatever the emergency is,” Rampersant said.<\/p>\n
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