Port Washington committee readies district plan to implement state ban on Internet-enabled devices during school day

The Port Washington Union Free School District—ommittee on Policy & Personnel reviewed a draft policy to implement New York State Education Law 2803 that restricts studentsuse of Internet-enabled personal devices during the school day and recommended the provision be placed on the board genda for a first reading.

Committee members spent most of the meeting discussing scope, exceptions and enforcement. The draft defines covered devices using the statute nd applies the ban bell-to-bell during the defined school day (for the high school the committee discussed 8:05 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.; elementary schedules follow their usual arrival-to-dismissal times). The draft also distinguishes district-issued instructional devices (for example, Chromebooks and iPads) from personal devices and allows district devices to be used when a teacher directs instruction.

The committee discussed listed exceptions that mirror the statute: medical needs, emergency communications, legal accommodations including individualized education program (IEP) and Section 504 accommodations, and access to translation services. The committee directed that non-district devices required for an IEP or medical monitoring be accommodated and documented through existing processes.

On enforcement, committee members supported tiered consequences at the high school: an initial warning; a subsequent referral to an assistant principal with the device held for the remainder of the day; and repeated violations requiring parent or guardian pickup. The committee emphasized they do not intend classroom removals solely for device possession; the goal is to remove devices so students can participate in class. Committee members also discussed practical storage options (backpacks, lockers or equivalent school practice) and noted that many elementary classrooms use cubbies and that high school locker availability is limited.

Members flagged potential unintended consequences and equity issues. The committee noted concerns that students might use bathrooms or other unsupervised spaces to avoid detection, and that enforcement data could reveal demographic disparities; state reporting of disciplinary outcomes will trigger review if disparities appear. The committee discussed outreach plans including assemblies, classroom briefings and a town hall for families so students and parents understand the change before the next school year.

Committee members recommended legal review of the draft language; the group agreed to request board permission to proceed with outreach to students and families and to place the device policy on the agenda for a first read at the next board meeting so the district can meet the law eadline and finalize details over the summer.

The committee did not adopt a final board policy at the meeting; it directed administrators to return revised language and to coordinate attorney review and stakeholder communications.