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Board weighs options on state-mandated ban of internet-enabled devices in schools
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Villanueva and trustees discussed a state-mandated policy to restrict internet-enabled devices in school, deliberating on scope (elementary/middle/high), enforcement steps, exemptions for IEPs and temporary instructional uses, and reporting requirements ahead of an Aug. 1, 2025 deadline.
The Eastchester Union Free School District Board of Education discussed a state-mandated policy that requires public school districts to adopt rules restricting internet-enabled devices — especially cell phones — by Aug. 1, 2025, focusing on enforcement, age-based scope and exceptions.
Dr. Villanueva told the board the state governor has enacted a law requiring districts to have a policy in place by Aug. 1, 2025, and presented a draft model policy supplied by the New York State School Boards Association (NYSBA). She said the draft offers model language the district can adopt or tweak to local needs.
"The goal is to essentially have a distraction-free environment for our schools and for our students," Dr. Villanueva said, describing two principal objectives: classroom focus and teaching students self-regulation. She outlined the draft's enforcement ladder: an initial verbal reminder, subsequent temporary confiscation or office…
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