Recent Communication of Policy 5695

August 26, 2025 

Dear Croton-Harmon Community, 

We hope you are enjoying a safe and restful summer and looking forward to the new school year. We are reaching out to inform you about an important upcoming change related to student cell phones and other personal internet-enabled devices in our schools. 

As a result of new legislation, all New York State public schools are required to implement a policy limiting the use of personal internet-enabled devices during the school day, beginning this September. The goal of this initiative is to support student focus, well-being, and academic engagement by reducing digital distractions and promoting healthier in-person interactions.  In our district, we see this as an opportunity to partner with families to change the culture of cell phone use in the long-term among young people in our community.  We are committed to implementing this legislation in a way which both exhibits the care and trust that we have always shown in our community’s children and is designed to result in longer-term change in their cell phone-related habits.   

Our Board of Education, in collaboration with the administrative team, has reviewed guidance from various sources, as well as community feedback from the families that responded to our survey and who shared thoughts and questions via email, and has approved a policy related to this topic.   

In alignment with the new State regulations, student use of cell phones during the school day is restricted. Students are encouraged to leave their cellphones at home.  During the school day, if a student brings a personal internet-enabled device to school, those devices will be turned off and stored in each school as follows: 

• CET: cubbies 
• PVC: lockers 
• CHHS: classroom pouches/caddies 

For CET and PVC, this new legislation from the State does not reflect a change in our prior practices related to student use of their personal internet-enabled devices at school.  Simply put, we encourage students at CET and PVC to leave their cell phones at home.  Students at CHHS are encouraged to leave their cell phones at home as well, and if they choose to bring them to school, the legislation will result in more restrictive practices, in that students will not be allowed to access their cell phones unless authorized by a staff member.  

We understand that there may be circumstances under which you will need to contact your child about a time-sensitive issue during the school day, and that in prior years, some of our families would have sent a text message to your child.  Under the new restrictions, if a family member needs to reach their child in an emergent situation during the school day, please call the school’s main office, and we will deliver the message to your child. 

CET Main Office:  914-271-5184 
PVC Main Office:  914-271-2191 
CHHS Main Office:  914-271-2147 

Our district is committed to making our schools feel welcoming, respectful, and productively challenging. Here’s how we will support your child: 

● Access to Technology: Teachers will provide appropriate opportunities for students to use school-provided technology to support learning and research. 
● Digital Citizenship: We continue to teach responsible, ethical, and safe technology use as part of our curriculum, including lessons on digital citizenship. 
● Student Wellbeing: We understand that for some students this is a significant change, and our staff is here to support students and ensure that they feel safe and supported at school.  

You can find the full policy here.  We hope that you will take the time to discuss this communication, and the associated policy, with your children before the start of school and feel free to contact any member of our administrative team with questions.  With partnership and understanding from all members of our community, our goal is to remain focused on teaching, learning, and our students’ experiences in our incredible schools. 

With Tiger Pride, 
The CHUFSD Administrative Team