Important Reminder: Devices with Recording Capabilities Prohibited at School

Dear Parents and Guardians of PS 101,

We are writing to remind you of our school policy regarding personal technology and electronic devices. To ensure a safe, focused, and respectful learning environment for all students, devices capable of taking photographs, recording video, or capturing audio—including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and digital cameras—are not permitted to be in use during the school day. These devices can create significant distractions during class and interfere with the educational process.

More importantly, this policy is essential for protecting the privacy, safety, and well-being of every child in our school community. Federal and state privacy laws strictly regulate the capture and sharing of images or recordings of minor children without official consent. Allowing unmonitored devices that record or photograph poses serious privacy concerns for our students and staff. We kindly ask for your cooperation in speaking with your child about leaving these devices at home.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our school environment safe and secure for everyone.

Student Privacy Annual Notices to Families

Dear PS101 Families,

The DOE takes the confidentiality of information about students very seriously. There are several federal and state laws, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and New York State Education Law 2-d, and local regulations, such as Chancellor’s Regulation A-820, that protect students’ “personally identifiable information” (PII). These laws also place responsibilities on the DOE and outside parties that are given access to children’s PII, including the requirement for the DOE and schools to provide families with the following annual notices:   

For more information, review the Student Data Privacy and Security Policies, and the Data Privacy and Security Compliance Process, 

GK