PS 101 Cell Phone Policy

As per NYS Law, students will not be permitted to use or access their personal internet-enabled electronic devices upon arrival at school until the end of the school day. The school day is defined as the period from the moment students enter the school building until the last class of the day ends, including during lunch. The school day starts at 7:40am and ends at 2:20pm.  Students will be able to use school/NYCPS-issued devices during the school day.

  1. COLLECTION/STORAGE 
  • Upon arrival, students must power off their devices.
    • Students will place their devices in personal school assigned pouches and secure it in front of school staff.
    • Students will store their locked pouches in their book bags which are stored in classroom closets for the day.
  • At the end of the school day, students will unlock their pouch upon dismissal .
  • They will remove their device(s) and lock their pouches before leaving the school.
  • Students with approved early dismissal will be able to unlock their pouch in upon exiting the school.
  • In the event that a storage device, such as a pouch, is lost or damaged, the school will require a nominal fee for a replacement (similar to replacement charges for school IDs).
  1. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
  • In case of emergency or exigent circumstances, parents or guardians can call the main office at 718 372-0221 to reach their child.
  • In case of emergency or exigent circumstances, students may access phones to reach their parents or guardians.
  • In case of emergency or exigent circumstances, the school will use Remind and GAMA to communicate information to parents or guardians.
  1. EXCEPTIONS
  • Students are allowed to use their device if they have an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 Plan that includes use of an internet-enabled device and do not have a DOE-issued device for such purpose.
  • Parents/guardians must contact AP Kane at 718-372-0221 if a student requires an exception for reasons such as: medical monitoring/treatment s (for example to monitor blood sugar or other similar circumstances), if student is a caregiver, for approved language purposes (such as translation or interpretation services if no other means are available), or where otherwise required by law.
  • The principal/designee may authorize use for an educational purpose.  
  • Exceptions will be processed and approved within 48hrs
  1. DISCIPLINE 
  • Students who use electronic devices in violation of the NYCPS Discipline Code, the school’s policy, Chancellor’s Regulation A-413, and/or the NYCPS Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy (“IAUSP”) will be subject to progressive discipline. This means that the disciplinary responses will escalate based on the nature and frequency of the violation. As provided in the State law, a student may not be suspended solely on the grounds that the student accessed a personal internet-enabled device in violation of school policy​.​ ​ Repeated incidents of insubordination (i.e. refusal to surrender or store device) may result in a suspension if approved by the Office of Safety and Youth Development.
  1. OTHER: If lost or stolen
    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.
  2. EMERGENCIES: In an Emergency:
    In an emergency, we will contact families through GAMA, which is directly linked to your New York City Schools Account (NYCSA). All parents/guardians can access a step-by-step guide for setting up a NYCSA account at https://www.schools.nyc.gov/setup-guide. If you need support with setting up your account, please contact our Parent Coordinator, Bing at 718-372-0221.

    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 Parent Coordinator Bing at 718-372-0221
  3. Video from the Chancellor: This short video explains the policy rationale, requirements, and disciplinary responses.

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