Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy
New York City Public Schools Cell Phone Policy
Under the updated policy, Chancellor's Regulation A-413, students are not permitted to use personal internet-enabled electronic devices during the school day. This includes devices such as cell phones, laptops, tablets, and portable music and entertainment systems.
Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy www.schools.nyc.gov/about-us/policies/cell-phone-and-electronic-device-policy
School Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy
Purpose:
To create an environment conducive to learning by minimizing distractions caused by cell phones and other personal internet-enabled electronic devices, ensure the safety and focus of all students during school the school day, and follow Education Law §2803, effective August 1, 2025, all New York State schools are required to adopt a policy that prohibits the use of personal internet-enabled devices during the school day on school grounds. An "internet-enabled electronic device" is defined as an electronic device capable of connecting to the internet and enabling the user to access content on the internet. Examples of such devices include cell phones, smartphones, smartwatches, laptops, tablets, iPads, and portable music and entertainment systems.
Policy statement:
Students will not be permitted to use or access their personal internet-enabled electronic devices upon arrival at school until the end of the school day. The school day is defined as the period from the moment students enter the school building until the last class of the day ends, including during lunch. The school day starts at 8:10am and ends at 2:30pm. Students will be able to use school/NYCPS-issued devices during the school day.
1. Collection/Storage
- Upon arrival, students must power off their devices.
- Students will be provided with electronic device pouches.
- Each student will receive a pouch that they will be responsible for while attending PS/IS 128.
- Students will place their device in the electric pouch and secure it in front of school staff each morning as they enter the school building.
- At the end of the school day (2:30pm), students may remove their electronic device from their pouch once they are outside the school building.
- If a student is found with a cell phone in their pocket or in their belongings, the device will be confiscated and held for the day. The student will be directed where to pick up the cell phone at the end of the school day.
- In the event a student’s pouch is lost or damaged, the school will require a nominal fee of $15 to replace the pouch.
2. Emergency Communications
- In case of emergency or exigent circumstances, parents or guardians can call Ms. Karen Soto (718) 326-6210 to reach their child.
- In case of emergency or exigent circumstances, students may access phones in the main office to reach their parents or guardians.
- In case of emergency or exigent circumstances, the school will use GAMA (the school messaging service) to communicate information to parents or guardians.
- You must activate your NYCSA account to receive messages
3. Exceptions
- Students are allowed to use their device if they have an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 Plan that includes use of an internet-enabled device and do not have a DOE-issued device for such purposes.
- If a Parents/guardian believes that their child requires an exception for reasons such as medical monitoring/treatment s (for example to monitor blood sugar or other similar circumstances), if student is a caregiver, for approved language purposes (such as translation or interpretation services if no other means are available), or where otherwise required by law, they must email must email Ms. Trani, JRaso5@schools.nyc.gov and Ms. Petrolekas, EPetrolekas@schools.nyc.gov.
- The administration may authorize use for educational purposes.
- Exceptions will be processed and approved within one week.
4. Discipline
Students who use electronic devices in violation of the NYCPS Discipline Code, the school's policy, Chancellor's Regulation A-413, and/or the NYCPS Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy ("IAUSP") will be subject to progressive discipline. This means that the disciplinary responses will escalate based on the nature and frequency of the violation. As provided in the State law, a student may not be suspended solely on the grounds that the student accessed a personal internet-enabled device in violation of school policy. Repeated incidents of insubordination (i.e. refusal to surrender or store device) may result in a suspension if approved by the Office of Safety and Youth Development.
Students must secure their electronic device in their designated pouch during the school day (8:10am-2:30pm). If a student refuses to follow the School Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy the school will follow disciplinary action.
First Violation:
The student’s cell phone will be confiscated, and the student can pick up their device at the end of the school day from the administration in the main office. The student’s parent will also be contacted.
Second Violation:
The student’s parent/guardian must attend a mandatory meeting with the administration. After the meeting the student will be required to give their cell phone to the administration every morning as they enter the school building for the remainder of the school year.
5. Other: If lost or stolen
- In the unlikely event that an electronic device is stolen or damaged at school, parents can submit a claim to the Comptroller’s Office. More information on submitting a claim is available on the Comptroller’s webpage.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a focused and productive learning environment. If you have any questions or need further clarification regarding these policies, please do not hesitate to contact Principal, JoAnn Trani or Assistant Principal, Eva Petrolekas.
Visitor Policy
To ensure that we can provide you with the best possible attention and support, we kindly request that all parents and guardians make an appointment before visiting the school building to meet with teachers, staff, or administrators. This policy helps us manage our time effectively to ensure we can address your concerns in a timely matter. To schedule an appointment, please contact the school office at 718-326-6210 or email the staff member you would like to schedule a meeting with.
Visitor Procedures –
- All visitors must ring the intercom bell on the panel outside the main entrance. Visitors will be asked to face the camera and state their name and the purpose of their visit.
- When the door is unlocked visitors must enter the school building, and proceed to the school safety desk to complete the sign-in process providing a photo ID.
- All visitors will be given a visitor tag that must been worn at all times in the school building.
- All visitors will be escorted to their meeting location and escorted to the main entrance when their meeting is over.
- Visitors may not travel throughout the school building unescorted at any time.
Safer Access System —Door Locking System
In line with our commitment to enhance security practices, all NYC Public Schools will have a Safer Access system installed. The Safer Access system is designed to strengthen our existing safety and security practices as part of the overall visitor protocols at our school.
What is Safer Access? The primary objective of the Safer Access system is to ensure that all doors remain locked outside of the morning-entry and afternoon-dismissal periods. When school doors are locked, visitors wishing to gain access to the building will ring the intercom at the main entrance door (or ADA-accessibility entrance if applicable) and identify themselves before access is granted into the school building. Safer Access allows our dedicated staff assigned to the main desk (School Safety Agents and/or school staff) to be able to see and speak with visitors before granting them access inside. Please be assured that all visitors to our school will continue to be treated with courtesy, professionalism, and respect while awaiting entry into our building. In addition to enhancing safety, this system allows for easy access for first responders during an emergency.
Please note that our Safer Access system has been installed and is operating. Our school staff (including the School Safety Agent) are in the process of receiving training on using the system as well as how to support all visitors in accordance with the DOE policy.
Please follow the steps below when entering the school building:
Please adhere to the following visitor policy that will be enforced starting the 2025-2026 school year.
To ensure that we can provide you with the best possible attention and support, we kindly request that all parents and guardians make an appointment before visiting the school building to meet with teachers, staff, or administrators. This policy helps us manage our time effectively to ensure we can address your concerns in a timely matter. To schedule an appointment, please contact the school office at 718-326-6210 or email the staff member you would like to schedule a meeting with.
Visitor Procedures –
- All visitors must ring the intercom bell on the panel outside the main entrance. Visitors will be asked to face the camera and state their name and the purpose of their visit.
- When the door is unlocked visitors must enter the school building, and proceed to the school safety desk to complete the sign-in process providing a photo ID. Please see that one visitor enters the building at a time. Each visitor must ring the intercom bell.
- All visitors will be given a visitor tag that must been worn at all times in the school building.
- All visitors will be escorted to their meeting location and escorted to the main entrance when their meeting is over.
- Visitors may not travel throughout the school building unescorted at any time.
Emergency Readiness
www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/safe-schools/emergency-readiness
Every school currently has procedures for emergencies. In 2000, New York State Education Law Section 2801 was enacted requiring schools to develop safety plans regarding emergency response. In July of 2001, the law was amended to require that plans include information for evacuation and sheltering. In accordance with this, “schools need to conduct drills and other exercises to test components of the emergency response plan.”
School staff members are trained in various procedures that are outlined in the School Safety Plan and we currently conduct a variety of drills throughout the year to prepare our staff and students. Section 807 of the New York State Education Law requires all schools to conduct a minimum of 12 fire drills each year. Section 917 of the State Education Law states that schools are required to provide and maintain automated external defibrillator (AED) equipment, and drills are conducted during the year to assess the use of AED units in an emergency. In accordance with Section 3623 of the State Education Law, drills are also conducted at schools that focus on safety on a school bus.
In addition to conducting these types of drills, our school has a Building Response Team that is trained to activate and respond to different incidents that may occur at our school. Under the new General Response Protocol (GRP), every school will be conducting specific drills designed to help prepare all school communities for three different types of response to emergencies that may occur: evacuation, shelter-in, and lockdown. Opportunities for parent engagement are available at our school to ensure that families are involved in our school-based emergency readiness program. Parent versions of the School Safety Plan are available upon request in the main office, and information explaining the GRP is included with this letter. Many other important resources for families are also available by visiting https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/safe-schools.
Emergency readiness training in schools takes place in September and continues for staff and students throughout the school year. Student training is appropriate and designed to ensure that students understand the importance of these drills without causing unnecessary alarm. Please review the General Response Protocols that have been given to all students and discuss these procedures with your child.
All families are reminded to update the Emergency Contact Cards that are on file in our main office. This includes providing and updating information indicating phone numbers, and the names of adults to whom the school may release children in an emergency. Families are also encouraged to register with Notify NYC (a858-nycnotify.nyc.gov/notifynyc/) to receive information about emergency events and call 311 for additional information about a school during an emergency.
Sincerely,
JoAnn Trani
Principal
Schoolwide Grading Policy
60% Assessments
15% Classwork
15% Homework
10% Participation