CELL PHONE LEGISLATION
July 29, 2025
Dear Parents and Families,
On May 9, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to restrict the use of smartphones and other internet-enabled devices during the school day, on a statewide basis. The law requires all school districts to post plans online by August 1, 2025. To fulfill the legal requirement, we sought input from representative stakeholder groups including faculty, staff, parents and students to develop our plan.
In partnership with the community, we are dedicated to providing a school environment where students thrive academically, socially and emotionally. The spirit of the new legislation is to help students to stay focused on learning with less distractions, to foster positive mental health, to reduce incidents of cyber-bullying and to increase personal face-to-face interactions amongst classmates. At the same time, we recognize the importance of communication and value your right to have access to your children when necessary. We’re in this together.
What does the “Distraction Free School” legislation include?
A bell-to-bell ban of non-school issued internet enabled devices, including all instructional and non-instructional time, homeroom, lunch, recess, study halls and passing time.
The ban covers usage on school grounds, athletic fields, playgrounds and all district property
Students, parents and employees to be consulted for development of the plan.
Schools must share methods for parents to reach their student during the school day.
The schools must identify a storage option for students’ personal devices during the school day.
Starting on the first day of school, our school district is obligated by law to implement this new plan in our schools. During the first week of school, building leaders will review the details of the plan with all students during Code of Conduct presentations and in classes.
How will this be implemented?
Cell phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices outside of school issued chrome books are
required to be off and put away in student lockers during the school day. Phones are never allowed in
bathrooms or locker rooms.
Earbuds and headphones are only to be used in the classroom for academic use and with permission
from the supervising teacher. No earbud or headphone use will be allowed in the hallways or the
cafeteria.
When parents/guardians need to reach their child during the school day for an emergency, please
call the main office of your student’s respective school. We will ensure that students receive
messages in a timely manner. Parents may also email the attendance office secretary or their child’s
counselor who can forward less urgent communications to the student's school email. For all other
non-emergency messages, students may check their phones after school as they leave the building.
Students will have access to school phones in offices or designated areas to contact guardians should
they have need.
Exemptions will be made as law requires for students who require such device for special education
or health services.
Students who have a medical or other emergency reasons for needing to access their phone during
the school day should discuss an exception with an administrator.
Please also know that if students decide to bring their personal devices to school they assume all risk
and liability for lost or damaged property.
What happens if a student violates the plan?
On the first offense, a student’s device will be confiscated, he/she will be referred to the office and
will be able to pick up the device at the end of the day from the designated office. The code of
conduct violation will be documented, and a warning will be issued and reinforced in partnership
with the parent/guardian.
If there is a second offense, the above actions will be implemented again, with the additional aspect
that the parent/guardian will be required to pick up the cell phone from the designated office.
If there is a third offense, the above actions will be implemented again, with the addition of an
individual student plan to either leave the phone at home or store it in the designated office each
day, created in partnership with the school and family.
Failure to follow the directive to surrender a device is insubordination, and the District’s Code of
Conduct identifies insubordination as a level 3 offense. The consequence for insubordination is up
to 3 days in-school-suspension. As our Code of Conduct is progressive in nature, multiple
offenses/violations may accompany additional school consequences.
Here is a link to the plan that will be submitted to the state as required by law: Pembroke Cell Phone Plan
Please review this information and expectations with your children. We acknowledge that it will be a challenging adjustment for everyone. While we would have developed different aspects in our plan had we been permitted to do so, we respectfully request for your support to implement the plan we developed. If we choose to remain UNIFIED in our efforts, then our students will continue to flourish in every way.
Respectfully,
Matthew E. Calderón
Superintendent of Schools