Distraction-Free School Zones Policy (Use of Internet-Enabled Devices)

Community Feedback

The Community Feedback Form was made available June 3-11, 2025 to gain feedback and comments on the draft plan from parents, staff and students. The Board of Education reviewed the feedback from June 12-18, 2025 to create the policy.

Resources

To keep parents, students, and staff informed, this resource section provides additional information related to the implementation of this state mandate.

Eden Central School District Board Policy #7316: Use of Internet-Enabled Devices During the School Day

Timeline

May 6 - NYS Legislature adopted amendment
June 3-11 - Eden community feedback form submission window
June 12-18 - Eden Board of Education reviews feedback
June 18 - First reading of policy
July 2 - Eden Board of Education approves policy
September 4 - Implementation begins for the 2025-26 school year

Legislation

On May 6, 2025, the NYS Legislature adopted an amendment to NYS Education Law Section 2803 entitled: Use of Internet-Enabled Devices During the School Day. This legislation mandates “bell-to-bell” restrictions on Smartphone use in schools.

Key Highlights in State Legislation:

Students will not be permitted to use or be in possession of personal internet-enabled devices (e.g., smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, wireless earbuds and headphones, portable gaming devices, and internet enabled wearables) during the school day while on school grounds.
Exceptions may be made for specific educational purposes, emergencies, healthcare needs, or accommodations as outlined in IEPs or 504 Plans.
The district will provide secure, on-site storage options for devices.
Families will be provided with communication methods to reach students during the day.
Students will continue to be permitted to use District issued devices such as Chromebooks and/or iPads.
Cellular phones or other communication devices not capable of connecting to the internet or enabling the user to do so are not included in this ban.

To read the full text of the legislation, click here: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EDN/2803

FAQs

Why is Eden implementing this policy?

How can students get messages to parents?

How can parents get messages to students?

To accommodate necessary communication, parents or persons in parental relation may use the following methods to contact their student during school hours while adhering to this policy:

a.) School Office Phone: Parents or persons in parental relation may call the school's main office or attendance office, and the office staff can relay messages to the student or call the student to the office to speak with their parent or person in parental relation.

b.) Written Notes: Parents or persons in parental relation can drop off written notes at the school's main office, which can then be delivered to the student by school staff.

Parents and persons in parental relation will be notified in writing of the methods that are available for contacting their student during school hours upon enrollment and at the beginning of each school year.

What is considered school grounds?

Students are prohibited from using Internet-enabled devices during the school day anywhere on school grounds.

"School grounds" means in or 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.

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