RCSD drafts policy to restrict digital device use

A new draft policy prohibits the use of electronic devices by students in Rochester City School District schools.

Devices will not be allowed during the school day, which the policy specifies as “all classes, homeroom periods, lunch, recess, study halls, and passing time,” while on school grounds, defined as “any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground, or land contained within the boundary of a school or district or BOCES facility.”

The policy uses the term “internet-enabled devices,” meaning it includes more than just cell phones.

“That means all digital devices. Your cellphone, your tablets, your laptops, your watches, all of that,” Commissioner Beatriz LeBron-Harris said at a recent board meeting. “I shared (the policy) with my kid and she’s ready to flip out.”

Students who do bring along prohibited devices are required to silence them, hand them over to designated school personnel, or store them in assigned storage containers, depending on the individual school policy.

The district policy states multiple times that “students are discouraged from bringing electronic devices to school,” and “generally, the District is not responsible for stolen, lost, or damaged personal electronic devices brought to school.”

The proposed policy stems from an amendment to the state’s Education Law that restricts the use of digital devices during the school day. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the measure in May, making New York the fifth state to enact statewide limitations on digital device use during school hours. The Pittsford Central School District already has updated its policy, as have the Rush-Henrietta, Hilton, and Irondequoit schools. 

Ahead of the curve, the Greece Central School District has required students to leave devices in Yondr pouches since 2022.

Also in 2022, Brighton updated its personal device policy, which does not explicitly prohibit them from the building but states that they must be “powered completely off” and “stored out of sight during school hours and after school activities.” Brighton’s 2024-25 Code of Conduct does specify that students must put phones in their backpack, on a teacher’s desk, or in individual student classroom cellphone pouches and outlines a punishment matrix for violations.

The current policies for other suburban districts vary. The policy for Churchville-Chili schools was revised in April 2024 and mentions “acceptable use,” but does not specify any time or place restrictions on internet devices.

Penfield Central School District’s policy was last reviewed in 2021 and is similarly focused on “acceptable and safe uses” of internet devices. Its 2024-25 Code of Conduct allows for high schoolers to possess but not use their devices, while all other grades’ devices must “remain in their backpack, locker, or cubby until dismissal.”

Similarly, East Rochester, whose policy on devices is from 2015, is centered around appropriate uses of the internet. Its 2024-25 Code of Conduct only specifies that students must “adhere to acceptable use guidelines” for electronic devices.

Webster schools’ policy was revised in December 2024 and includes details about liability but similarly has nothing about time or place restrictions. Its 2024-25 Code of Conduct states that devices are not allowed “during instructional time.”

The districts of Brockport, Honeoye Falls, Mendon, and Gates-Chili schools have electronic device policies listed in their 2024-25 Codes of Conducts, but no corresponding district policy.

Wheatland-Chili has no policy on electronic devices currently and its 2024-25 Code of Conduct allows for devices to be used during lunchtime.

While Fairport’s board of education drafted a policy on personal electronic device use in June, there was no vote on it at the July meeting and the publicly available list of policies has yet to be updated.

Enforcement of the RCSD policy is left up to administrative staff, also on a school-by-school basis. However, suspension from school is not appropriate if the only reason for that action is the use of an internet-enabled device.

Exceptions to the device policy will be made in the event of an emergency or if they are required for an individualized education program, Section 504 plan, or are otherwise mandated by law. Other exceptional circumstances include management of a student’s health (for diabetes, asthma, or other medical conditions), translation services, or for “students who are routinely responsible for the care and well-being of a family member.”

In addition, students may be able to use devices during the school day for educational purposes. It must first be registered with the district, a teacher must have authorized its use for a specific classroom activity, and it must access the internet through the district’s network.

RCSD will also publish an annual report starting in September 2026 on its website, detailing enforcement of the policy, non-identifiable demographic information of students who have faced disciplinary action, and an analysis of any demographic disparities in its enforcement. The report is expected to include a plan to mitigate disparate enforcement should that occur.

A public meeting on the policy will be held today. Comments can also be given through an online survey.

“I think we do have to simplify it and put it out there that this is mandated by law for Aug. 1st,” said LeBron-Harris. “It’s not just our policy, it’s the law.”

Jacob Schermerhorn is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer and data journalist.

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