Policy 7316

STUDENT CONDUCT
7316 STUDENT USE OF PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY

The Board of Education seeks to maintain a safe and secure environment for students and staff. This policy aims to ensure that students remain focused on their academic responsibilities throughout the school day, which includes all instructional and non-instructional periods such as homeroom, lunch, recess, study halls, and passing time. 

For purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply: 

a) "Personal technology" includes all existing and future technology devices that can take photographs; record audio or video; input text; upload and download media; and transmit or receive messages or images. It also includes any internet enabled device such as smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, or other device capable of connecting to the Internet and enabling the user to access content on the Internet, including social media applications; 
"Personal technology" does not include Internet-enabled devices supplied by the District or a Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) that are used for instructional purposes.
b) "School day" means the entirety of every instructional day as required by subdivision 7 of the Education Law Section 3604 during all instructional time and non-instructional time, including but not limited to homeroom periods, lunch, recess, study halls, and passing time.
c) "School grounds" means in, on, or within, any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground, or land contained within the real property boundary line of a district elementary, intermediate, junior high, vocational, or high school, a charter school, or a BOCES facility.

Elementary students are prohibited from using personal technology during the school day, anywhere on school grounds, playgrounds, or in school buildings. Elementary students are also prohibited from using personal technology on District transportation. 

Middle and High School students are prohibited from using personal technology during the school day, anywhere on school grounds, or in school buildings. Students must store their personal technology in designated pouches and/or lockers during the school day. The District will communicate the procedures for storing devices and ensure that students understand their responsibilities. 

However, students may be authorized to use personal technology during the school day on school grounds when approved for serious medical needs, or other exigent circumstances, as determined by the District. Students will be permitted to use personal technology where the use is required to support the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan. 

The Board expressly prohibits the improper use of personal technology in locker rooms, restrooms, Health Offices and any other areas where a person would reasonably expect some degree of personal privacy.

The District shall not be liable for the loss, damage, misuse, or theft of any personal technology brought to school. The District reserves the right to monitor, inspect, and/or confiscate personal technology when administration has reasonable suspicion to believe that a violation of school policy or criminal law has occurred.

Contacting Students During the School Day

Parents or persons in parental relation may call the school's main office, and the office staff can relay a message to the student or call the student to the office to speak with their parent or person in parental relation. Parents and persons in parental relation will be notified in writing how to contact their student during school hours at enrollment and at the beginning of each school year. 

Student Discipline 

The District is prohibited from suspending a student if the sole ground for the suspension is that the student accessed personal technology in violation of this policy.

Posting and Translation of Policy

The District will post this policy in a clearly visible and accessible location on its website. Translations of the policy into the 12 most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English proficient individuals in the state will be provided upon request by a student or other persons in parental relation to a student. 

Reporting and Mitigation Action Plan

Beginning September 1, 2026 and annually thereafter, the District will publish an annual report on its website detailing enforcement of this policy within the District in the prior school year. This report will include non-identifiable demographic data of students who have faced disciplinary action for non-compliance and analysis of any demographic disparities in enforcement of this policy. If a statistically significant enforcement impact is identified, the report will include a mitigation action plan. 





 
Policy References:
NOTE:  Refer also to 
Policy 7315 - Student Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
Policy 7550 - Dignity for All Students
Policy 8271 - Internet Safety/Internet Content Filtering Policy



Adopted: 6/22/99
Revised: 6/12/18, 9/6/22, 7/8/25

Policy 7316