Student Personal Electronic Devices Policy
EAST ISLIP UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
STUDENTS AND PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES POLICY 5695
(Downloadable PDF)
The Board of Education recognizes that students may have personal electronic devices that can perform different functions. These devices can create significant distractions to the school environment, negatively impact student mental health, contribute to disciplinary infractions, and reduce student engagement. Additionally, in an emergency, the use of personal electronic devices can distract students from following the directions of staff or emergency responders, contribute to the spread of misinformation, create congestion in the emergency response system, and interfere with the district’s emergency response protocols.
Generally, the district is not responsible for stolen, lost or damaged personal electronic devices brought to school.
Definitions
“Personal electronic devices” include all existing and emerging technology devices that can connect to or receive information from the Internet; take photographs; record or play audio or video; input text; upload and download media; and transmit or receive messages, telephone calls or images and include, but are not limited to, personal smart devices and electronics including, but not limited to, personal laptops and other computers; iPhone and Android smart phones; Bark phones and other smartphones with modified application menus and parental controls; wearables such as smart watches; traditional cell phones and flip phones; portable storage media; all recording devices; iPods, iPads, and other tablets; and such other Internet connected devices and handheld devices that are available for use.
“School day” is defined as the entirety of the instructional day, during all instructional and non-instructional time, including but not limited to homeroom periods, lunch, recess, study halls, and passing time.
“School grounds” is defined as in or on or within any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground, field trips that occur during the school day, or land contained within the real property boundary lines of the School District’s schools.
Communication with Parents/Persons in Parental Relation
During the school day, parents/persons in parental relation to students may contact students during the school day by leaving a message with the Main Office of the building where the student attends school to request a call back from the student. Parents/persons in parental relation to students will receive written notification of the method(s) and phone number for contacting students upon enrollment and annually at the beginning of each school year.
Device Access and Storage
The use of personal electronic devices as defined above by students during the school day anywhere on school grounds is prohibited by law, unless such use is included in a student’s Individualized Educational Plan or 504 Plan.
Students are required to turn off or silence all personal electronic devices and store them upon arrival to school for the entire school day from the opening bell until dismissal in each school building as follows:
- At the elementary level, storage will be provided in classroom closets.
- At the secondary level, storage will be provided in student lockers.
Exceptions for Specific Purposes
The building administration has the discretion to allow students to use personal electronic devices during the school day on school grounds in the following limited instances:
- where necessary for the management of a student’s healthcare;
- in the event of an emergency;
- on a case-by-case basis, upon review and determination by a school psychologist, school social worker, or school counselor, with approval from District administration, for a student caregiver who is routinely responsible for the care and wellbeing of a family member; or
- where required by law.
Parents/persons in parental relation to the student may request an exception for their children to use personal electronic devices during the school day as listed. Requests must be made to the Building Principal, and for healthcare exceptions, must include documentation from an appropriate healthcare professional.
Enforcement and Consequences
The School District reserves the right to monitor, inspect, limit use of and/or confiscate personal devices when the Building Principal or designee has reasonable suspicion that a violation of this policy has occurred.
In accordance with law, students will not be suspended for violating this policy, if this is the only disciplinary infraction; however, the School District is permitted to utilize other consequences as set forth in the Code of Conduct.
Electronic Devices and Testing
In accordance with state guidelines, students may not bring cellphones or other electronic devices into classrooms or other exam locations during all testing. Students with Individualized Education Plans or Section 504 Plans specifically requiring the use of electronic devices may do so as specified.
Policy Distribution and Translation
The School District will post this policy in a clearly visible and accessible location on its website. Upon request by a student or parent/person in parental relation to the student, the School District will translate this policy into any of the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English proficient individuals in the state, as identified by the most recent American community survey published by the U.S. Census bureau.
The School District will also include this information, or a plain language summary, in student/family handbooks.
Cross Ref: 4526 Computer Network and Internet Acceptable Use
5300 Code of Conduct
Ref: Education Law § 2803
Adopted: July 1, 2025