Fred R. Moore
Academy

School Policy

Internet-Enabled Electronic Devices

I. New York City Public Schools Internet-Enabled Electronic Device Policy — Updated

Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, in accordance with New York State law (Education Law §2803), New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) is updating its policy regarding the use of personal internet-enabled electronic devices—including cell phones—in school. This change supports the State's intent to create distraction-free schools and aims to ensure safe and focused learning environments across all NYCPS schools.

Under the updated policy, Chancellor's Regulation A-413, students are not permitted to use personal internet-enabled electronic devices during the school day. A personal internet-enabled device is any electronic device not issued by a school or NYCPS program that can connect to the internet, allowing the user to access content online. Examples of these personal devices include:

  • Communication Devices, such as cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches.
  • Computing Devices, such as laptops, tablets, and iPads.
  • Portable music and entertainment systems, such as MP3 players and game consoles.

Each school must develop its own written policy regarding the use of electronic devices consistent with the Chancellor's Regulation.

II. PS 133 Internet-Enabled Device Policy

A. Personal Internet-Enabled Electronic Device Policy

Collection and Storage of Internet-Enabled Electronic Personal Devices

Students are permitted to bring these devices to school, but they must be stored during the school day. This policy applies from “bell to bell,” which means students are not permitted to use their personal devices throughout the entire school day (7:30am-2:20pm). The “school day” covers all instructional and non-instructional time, including homeroom periods, breakfast, lunch, recess, and study hall sessions. Backpacks alone are not considered a sufficient storage option.

Note: School-run after-school tutoring programs are considered part of instructional time. Students participating in these programs will have their devices returned at the end of each session.

  • Upon arrival, students must power off their devices.
  • Staff members will collect the devices from their classrooms, between 8:00am and 8:40am. If students arrive after this window, they must drop off their device at the Main Office.
  • At the end of the school day, devices will be distributed by school staff to the student’s last class.
  • Students who had their device confiscated will have to pick up their device from the Main Office.
  • Students with approved early dismissal will retrieve their devices in the Main Office.

Note: After collection, devices will be placed in individual class bins, which will then be secured in locked carts stored in administrators’ offices. Each collected device will be documented daily, including its condition, and records will also be kept when the device is returned.

Ability to Contact in Case of Emergencies

In case of emergencies, parents and guardians should contact their child by calling PS 133's main office or our Parent Coordinator. Please avoid sending urgent matters to staff via the Remind App. As the school adopts a distraction-free policy, response times through Remind may be delayed.

After receiving permission by their teacher, students may contact their parents or guardians by using the telephones available in the Main Office or the Family Room.

In the event of a school emergency, staff members will contact students’ families directly- either personally by phone or through mass messaging using GAMA (depending on the situation). We strongly encourage all parents to create a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) and ensure that their contact information is up to date so that they can be easily reached by their school. Parents/guardians can create an account by visiting the following website: https://www.schoolsaccount.nyc/.

Exceptions

Personal internet-enabled device may be used:

  1. By students for educational activities only when specifically directed by teachers and authorized by the principal/designee.
  2. 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.
  3. For translation services, to assist students who need language support not currently provided by their school. Only applicable if a school device is not sufficient and approved by school leadership.
  4. If required by an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan. Only applicable if a school device is not sufficient and approved by school leadership.
  5. In individual emergency situations, when the parent has notified school leadership of the specific nature of the emergency. Requests must be emailed to the principal. A decision will be made within 24 hours.
  6. Where otherwise required by the law. This includes situations where federal, state, or local laws mandate the use of such devices for specific purposes. In this case, schools should be provided any necessary documentation to ensure proper authorization and usage.

Discipline

If a student uses their internet-enabled device without permission during the school day, they will be subject to progressive discipline in accordance with their school's policies and the NYCPS Discipline Code. This means that the school will use a series of escalating interventions and consequences to address the behavior based on the nature and frequency of the violation. Examples of interventions include conferences with the student's parent, or, if the behavior is sufficiently disruptive, removal from the classroom.

Note that students cannot be suspended solely for accessing personal internet-enabled electronic devices in violation of school policy—however, repeated refusal to surrender or store a personal device may result in a suspension.

Students who violate this policy will have their unauthorized devices confiscated. In that event, affected families will be contacted by the school, and devices will be returned in accordance with the school's policy. Please see the policy below.

1. Confiscation and Return of Item

If the guidelines above are not met, that is, a student does not turn in their internet-enabled personal device and is found to have it without explicit written approval from administration, the following measures will be instituted in a progressive fashion.

  • 1st Violation: The item will be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the school day without requiring parent pick-up of the device.
  • 2nd Violation: The item will be confiscated and returned only to the parent at the end of the school day.
  • 3rd Violation: The item will be confiscated and returned only to the parent after a parent conference.

Once the device has been confiscated, it will be secured in a locked desk in an envelope (labeled with the student’s name/OSIS number, date of confiscation and type of device) in a locked office.

2. Extreme Violation

In a case of extreme violation (i.e. Refusal or disrespectful behavior), a parent must come to the school to retrieve the device. The student may also face additional disciplinary actions in accordance with the NYCPS Discipline Code, which may include lunch detention, afterschool detention, and/or suspension.

Note: School staff may not engage in any verbal confrontations with students or attempt to confiscate the device from a student who is uncooperative or defiant. Contact the parent/guardian to schedule a parent conference to discuss the incident.

Theft or Damage

If a student reports an electronic device is stolen or damaged at school, schools will:

  1. Notify the parent.
  2. File an OORS report.
  3. Notify the NYPD if theft or other criminal activity is suspected.
  4. Investigate the allegations and take appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the Discipline Code.
  5. In the unlikely event that an electronic device is stolen or damaged at school, parents can submit a claim to the Comptroller’s Office. More information on submitting a claim is available on the Comptroller’s webpage.

B. School Issued Internet-Enabled Electronic Device Policy

The updated Chancellor's Regulation A-413 policy does not restrict the use of school-issued devices, such as laptops and Chromebooks, for their intended purpose. Students will continue to be able to use their NYCPS-issued devices for classwork and other in-school assignments.

C. Policy for All Internet Enabled Devices (School-Issued and Personal)

Inappropriate Content

Accordingly, students may not use electronic devices to engage in prohibited behaviors, which include but are not limited to:

  1. Making sexually suggestive comments, innuendos, propositions or similar remarks, or engaging in nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
  2. Posting, distributing, displaying or sharing literature or material containing a threat of violence, injury or harm, or depicting violent actions against or obscene, vulgar or lewd pictures of students or staff.
  3. Engaging in harassing, intimidating and/or bullying behavior, including use of electronic communication to engage in such behavior (cyber-bullying).
  4. Using slurs based upon actual race or perceived race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship/immigration status, weight, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation or disability. Such behaviors include, but is not limited to: physical violence; stalking; verbal, written, or physical conduct that threatens another with harm; seeking to coerce or compel a student or staff member to do something; hazing; taunting; exclusion from peer groups designed to humiliate or isolate; using derogatory language or making derogatory jokes or name calling to humiliate or harass.
  5. The Discipline Code also prohibits students from taking unauthorized photos and audio/video recordings of others.

Course of Action for Inappropriate Content

In the case of the inappropriate behavior, the following steps must be followed by staff:

  • Immediately notify the Administration
  • Immediately notify the parent or guardian
  • Investigate the allegations and take appropriate action in accordance with the Discipline Code.
  • Contact the parent/guardian to schedule a parent conference to discuss the incident.
  • Refrain from going through pictures, documents, phone numbers, texts on the electronic device.
  • Do not send or delete material, reproduce, or “burn” copies of the images. Wait for instructions from senior field counsel, who will coordinate with the law enforcement.
  • Immediately notify the NYPD and senior field counsel if infraction calls for it based on the NYC Discipline Code.

Academic Integrity

Prohibits: (But not limited to)

  1. Cheating, plagiarizing, and colluding (discipline Code Infractions A30/B31)
  2. Turning on or using electronic devices during any school quiz, test, or exam. Only exception is computing devices that requires explicit authority or mandated by an IEP or Section 504 Accommodation Plan
  3. NYSED prohibits bringing cell phones, smart watches, and other devices into the classroom while assessments are being administered.
  4. All NYC public schools must adhere to NYSED’s guidelines while state exams are being administered in city schools.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a focused and productive learning environment. If you have any questions or need further clarification regarding these policies, please do not hesitate to contact us.