Hendrick Hudson to craft August policy after state bans student personal devices during school day

Hendrick Hudson Board of Education members on May 20 were told the district must write a policy by Aug. 1 to comply with new state legislation that will prohibit students from using personally owned internet-enabled devices during the school day beginning in the 2025–26 school year.

"There is a new law that will prohibit the student use of personally owned Internet-enabled devices, including smart phones, tablets, and smart watches, through the entire school day, including lunch and recess," the Superintendent (name not specified) told the board during the superintendent's update.

The new statute exempts school-issued devices such as Chromebooks and allows exceptions for medical devices and any accommodations required by a student's IEP or Section 504 plan, the Superintendent said. The district was given three concrete near-term requirements: publish a written policy by Aug. 1; make the policy available online and translated into home languages; and report annually to the state on enforcement and demographic impacts.

The Superintendent summarized the policy requirements: "The policy must outline how parents can contact students during the day, provide for on-site storage, and specify any allowable exceptions for our students." The board was also told that any suspensions related to violations "cannot be the sole disciplinary response to violations."

Board members and district staff discussed practical and financial implications. The Superintendent said the district has asked regional peers for model language and guidance, noting, "We've requested sample policies from Erie 1 BOCES and NISBBA for Board of Education policy subcommittee review." The district will also seek feedback from site-based teams, student advisory committees, union leadership and its shared decision-making committee.

District administrators warned the board that the law may affect this year's budget planning. "If our bring-your-own-device rules at the high school are not exempted, that will have a financial implication on the number of devices we may have to purchase for our students next year," the Superintendent said. The board discussed on-site storage options such as lockers or lockboxes, and noted equity and logistical concerns for families unable to leave devices at home.

School officials said the New York State Education Department (NYSED) has not issued additional implementation guidance and that the district will consult legal counsel and regional partners as it develops local rules. The Superintendent said the timeline is tight but emphasized stakeholder engagement: "It's important for us to get any feedback of everybody before we go in to discuss this as a policy."

Next steps the Superintendent outlined include collecting model policies, convening subcommittees and unions for input, and presenting a draft policy for board review before the Aug. 1 statutory date. The district will also prepare required parent notices and translation materials ahead of the policy's start in September.

Community members who want to provide input were invited to email the superintendent's office; the Superintendent said the district will post opportunities for stakeholder feedback and that the board can revise the policy after initial implementation if needed.