Device Policy

Option 2: Phone-Free Environment 

• Students choose not to use the Yondr pouch system, they should leave the phone (smart watch and earbuds) at home 

• Students who forget their Yondr pouch at home have to submit the phone (smart watch and earbuds) to a School Assistant for storage. Phones are stored and locked in IT Specialist Bouake's Office.      

• Phones and other technology items collected in this manner will be returned at the end of the school day.   

• At any point in the day when students need to contact their families they can:  

• Go to any of the following offices to call their parents: Main Office – RM 106, Mr. Camacho – Room 306, Ms. Guajardo – Room 307, Guidance Counselors – Room 108 or 110 or with Ms. Turnbull in Room 329.    

• Go to Mr. Bouake, Mr. Kettle or Mr. Nicholas in Room 114 to open their Yondr pouch to call from their personal device.   

If any staff member sees a phone that is not secured in a Yondr pouch, it must be confiscated. 

 

 

Staff Procedures 

When a Phone is Visible (Not in Yondr Pouch) 

Step 1: Confiscation: 

• Staff members must approach students in violation of the policy 

• Respectfully request that the student hand over their phone 

• All confiscated phones must be delivered to Mr. Camacho 

Step 2: Securing Confiscated Items: 

• Teachers/staff are responsible for the security of any confiscated item 

• Lock the item in your classroom/office - never leave it unattended 

• Deliver the item to Mr. Camacho ASAP by: 

• Giving it to a School Assistant and following up with an email OR 

• Bring it directly to Mr. Camacho's office or Ms. Guajardo's office if Mr. Camacho is not available.  Ms. Turnbull is your last option but do not hold on to it.    

Step 3: Student Compliance Issues:  If a student refuses to surrender their phone: 

• Notify the school assistant in your cluster immediately 

• Contact Mr. Camacho or Ms. Guajardo immediately, Ms. Turnbull is your last option.   

• They will respond to your classroom to address the situation 

• In addition, it is your responsibility to call the parent of the child and enter an anecdote on Jupiter Grades.  

Step 4: Ladder of consequences: Repeatedly not securing phone with option 1 or 2: 

• 1st Offense: Restorative Warning – return phone at the end of day. Teacher/Dean calls the parents to report. Disciplinary conference with Dean/Counselor  

• 2nd Offense: Parent/Guardian Pickup Required – Restorative Writing with 3-5 IB Profile attributes  

• 3rd Offense: Parent Pickup and Conference Required – 3 Page Research paper – Topics to be determined (Phone free Schools, Effects on Screen Time on Young Brains, Phone Addiction etc.)  

• 4th Offense: Suspension (1-3 days classroom removal)   

All confiscated phones require a parent or guardian to come to school for pickup. Teachers should not hold onto phones - all devices must be transferred to Mr. Camacho as soon as possible. Phones are returned, with parental permission, for students who receive bussing. 

 

Key Reminders 

• The policy applies to all students:  

• Do not hold phones for students, do not allow students to charge their personal devices in your classroom or offices  

• Staff members are expected to consistently enforce the policy 

• Students are held accountable for their choice of phone management option 

• Students’ personal computers and iPads are not allowed on campus. Students are only allowed to have a DOE Chromebook.    

 

*Exceptions to the policy: 

 Students may be authorized by the school to access their devices in the following cases:

• For educational purposes, as directed by teachers and authorized by school leadership.
• By students with medical conditions that require the use of electronic devices to monitor them, such as glucose monitors for diabetes. In this case, parents should inform the school and provide any necessary documentation to ensure proper authorization and usage.
• For translation services, to assist students who need language support not currently provided by their school. At NPAA we provide translation devices that are DOE sanctioned. 
• If required by an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan.
• By student caregivers, on a case-by-case basis. A school psychologist, school social worker, or school counselor will review and determine if exceptions may be granted for a student caregiver who is routinely responsible for the care and wellbeing of a family member.
• In individual emergency situations, when the parent has notified school leadership of the specific nature of the emergency.
• Where otherwise required by the law. This includes situations where federal, state, or local laws mandate the use of such devices for specific purposes.

Existing rules for cell phone usage during test administration still apply. Students may not have their electronic devices during the administration of a test, unless such access is pursuant to an IEP or 504 plan. As a reminder, if any student is observed with any prohibited device, including a cell phone, while taking a State examination, the proctor must:

• direct the student to turn the device over to the proctor immediately; allow the student to complete the test (to allow for all possible outcomes of procedural due process); 
• and report the incident promptly to the school principal.
• If the student had a prohibited device in their possession during the test administration, the principal must invalidate the student’s test (no score may be calculated for that student) and report the incident to NYCPS' Office of Assessment and NYSED's Office of State Assessment (OSA).

 

 

 

The goal of our policy is to minimize distractions while allowing students to carry their devices safely.  

 

Principal designee is Mr. Ricardo Camacho: Dean of Culture and Climate