Student Use of Internet Enabled Devices

As part of the 2025-2026 New York State Budget, New York State passed legislation to restrict student use of internet enabled “smart” devices in all schools in the state during school hours.

 

The new statute, Education Law § 2803, requires “each school district, charter school, and board of cooperative educational services” to adopt a written policy prohibiting the use of internet-enabled devices by students during the school day anywhere on school grounds.

 

In the statute, “internet-enabled devices” includes “any 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.” The term “school day” is defined as “every instructional day … during all instructional time and non-instructional time, including, but not limited to homeroom periods, lunch, recess, study halls, and passing time.” School grounds is defined to include any building or land “within the real property boundary line” of the school.

 

The Utica City School District, in partnership with the local OHM BOCES Policy Office, drafted the new Board of Education policy 7208 titled, Student Use of Internet Enabled Devices in order to comply with the new law.

 

This draft policy is available for review at the following link:

 

 

 

Stakeholder input on Draft Policy 7208 – Student Use of Internet Enabled Devices can be provided at the following email address: policy7208@uticaschools.org