As of May 2025, Governor Hochul put forth the Distraction-Free Schools policy across New York State. This policy creates a statewide standard that includes, “No unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day, including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods.” The policy tasks schools with developing plans for securing smartphones throughout the school day and requires schools to provide ways for parents to contact their students in school if necessary. This policy does not impact internet enabled devices provided by the school for educational purposes (laptops, chromebooks, etc.). This policy has been implemented as part of the Governor’s commitment to protecting youth Mental Health.
P-TECH will implement a Distraction-Free school environment with the following procedure:
? Upon arrival into the BOCES building, students are expected to secure their personal devices in a Yondr pouch. This will allow the student to keep the device in his/her possession while still ensuring that it is secure and out of use during the school day.
? At dismissal, students will unlock their Yondr pouches at wall mounted unlocking stations placed near exits throughout the building restoring access to their personal devices.
? During the school day, should a student need access to his/her device, a staff member can provide him/her with access to an unlocking device.
In the event that parents need to contact their student during their time at BOCES, they can contact them by calling the P-TECH Main Office at (607)766-3722. We have worked to ensure that calls are forwarded if the secretary is away from her desk at any given point throughout the school day.
To preserve the teaching and learning environment, this document is to clarify the personal electronic device procedure for P-TECH.
The procedure is:
Cell phones and all functions within the cell phone (i.e. cameras and all other applications) are prohibited while inside the school building during the regular school day (8:00 am-2:30 pm) in the following areas: Classrooms, Science Labs, Restrooms, all Physical Education Areas and all School Office Areas. All personal internet-enabled devices should be turned off and stored securely in Yondr pouches while students in the BOCES school building. In addition, wireless headphones (both ear buds and over the ear style) are not permitted during the school day. We will provide wired headphones (ear buds or over the ear style) to students for use with school provided electronic devices (computers, chromebooks, etc.) as needed. Any other internet enabled personal device should also be turned off and put away while students are in the BOCES building.
Violation of the internet-enabled electronic device rules as stated above will result in the secure storage of the device according to the following plan:
First Offense - Student will receive a verbal warning, store their device appropriately, and will review the electronic device procedure with an administrator or counselor.
? Second Offense - Student will meet with an administrator or counselor and the student’s phone will be stored securely for the duration of the BOCES part of the student’s school day. A call home to the student’s parent or guardian will be made in order to review the electronic device procedure and expectations moving forward.
? Third Offense - Student will meet with an administrator and the student’s device(s) will be stored securely for the duration of the BOCES part of the student’s school day and a plan will be created for device storage moving forward at the discretion of the administrator. A phone call home to parent or guardian will be made.
? Fourth Offense - Student will meet with an administrator and an in-person conference will be held with the student and his/her parent/guardian. The student’s home district will be notified. A written plan will be created for internet enabled device storage and expectations moving forward. This will be signed by the administrator, student, & parent/guardian and shared with the student’s home district and all BOCES staff who work directly with the student (teachers, counselor, etc.).
*It should be noted that refusal to surrender a device when requested to do so by a school staff member, teacher or administrator is a violation of this procedure and may result in an additional consequence.
Additional Information:
1. Parents/Guardians, you can contact your child via their cell phone before they enter the BOCES building or after their district dismissal time. In the event of an immediate emergency, please call the school’s main office at (607) 766-3722.
2. If students need to place an emergency phone call during the day, they should request to go to the main office or to the counselor’s office and will be given access to a phone to communicate with the appropriate person.
3. In the event of an emergency, there are select staff members throughout the building who have access to unlocking mechanisms and who will assist students with unlocking their Yondr pouches as deemed appropriate.
4. Students who receive Yondr pouches from their home district are expected to bring those pouches to BOCES for use during their time at P-TECH. The unlocking mechanisms at BOCES are universal and will unlock Yondr pouches provided from any school district. If students do not receive Yondr pouches from their home district, one will be provided to them from BOCES P-TECH and it is expected to be in use while the student is at BOCES. Extra Yondr pouches will be available in all P-TECH classrooms in the event a student needs a replacement or additional pouch.
5. This procedure is in place while students are in the BOCES school building. If students are at SUNY Broome for any part of their school day, students should follow the expectations of SUNY Broome and their college professors. If the student is in their home district building for part of their school day, they should follow the procedures and expectations of their home district.
6. The staff of P-TECH requests your full cooperation with our procedure.
7. Students and their parents must read the internet-enabled device procedure and return a signed copy to Mrs. Falank by September 15th.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call Mrs. Falank at (607)766-3722.