No Cell, Bell to Bell

The Board of Education recognizes that students may have personal electronic devices that can perform different functions.  Such devices include “internet-enabled devices” defined as: 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, but do not include any such device supplied by the district for educational purposes. Other personal electronic devices include devices that are incapable of connecting to the internet and accessing content on the internet, such as earbuds, which are also not permitted unless authorized for use in the classroom for instructional purposes only. Generally, the district is not responsible for stolen, lost, or damaged personal electronic devices brought to school.

Communication with Parents/Persons in Parental Relation

During the school day, to minimize distractions, parents (which, for purposes of this policy, includes persons in parental relation) may contact their children via the following methods: calling the school main office or emailing your child using the district-provided email address. Students may contact their parents by reporting to the main office or by emailing using the district-provided device and their district-provided email address. The district will notify parents in writing of the communication protocol at the beginning of each school year and upon enrollment. 

Device Access and Storage

As required by Education Law §2803, this policy prohibits student use of internet-enabled devices during the school day (meaning the entirety of every instructional day, including during instructional and non-instructional time, homeroom periods, lunch, recess, study halls, and passing time) on school grounds (meaning in or within any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground, or land contained within the real property boundary line of the school), unless expressly permitted under the exceptions outlined in this policy. 

1. At the primary and elementary school level, students are discouraged from bringing devices to school. Any device that is brought to school must be silenced or kept in a lockable storage cubby in the main office at the primary school and in a lockable storage cubby in the classroom at the elementary school. 
2. At the Canandaigua Academic and Career Center, student devices must be silenced and stored in a lockable storage cubby in the classroom.  
3. At the middle school and the Academy level, student devices must be silenced and stored in student lockers or another secure system designated and provided by the building administration.

Internet-enabled devices are also not permitted to be used on our buses by students in the primary and elementary schools and must be silenced and placed in their backpacks for the entirety of the bus ride. 

Exceptions for Specific Purposes

Use of internet-enabled devices must be permitted where included in a student’s Individualized Education Program, Section 504 plan, or where required by law.  Additionally, the district permits the use of internet-enabled devices in the event of an emergency, and under the following circumstances:

1. Where necessary to manage a student’s healthcare (e.g., diabetes, asthma, medication, etc.);
2. For translation services, and/or
3. For students who are routinely responsible for the care and well-being of a family member (on a case-by-case basis, upon review and determination by a school psychologist, school social worker, or school counselor in coordination with the building administrator).

Parents may request an exception for their children to use internet-enabled devices during the school day as listed above.  Requests must be made to the Building Principal, and for healthcare exceptions, must include documentation from an appropriate healthcare professional.  

Enforcement, Consequences, and Reporting

Enforcement of this policy is chiefly the responsibility of the building administrative staff; however, all designated employees are expected to assist in enforcement.  Students will be reminded of this policy regularly and consistently, especially at the start of the school year and after returning from breaks.

The district will exercise reasonable care to maintain the security of devices that are held by the district, but cannot guarantee the devices will be secure.  

Some uses of personal electronic devices may constitute a violation of the school district's Code of Conduct or other district policies, and in some instances, the law. Students who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary penalties pursuant to the District’s Code of Conduct and subject to applicable law and regulations. Progressive discipline or restorative practices may be used in cases of repeated violations, consistent with the Code. The district will cooperate with law enforcement officials as appropriate.

Electronic Devices and Testing

To ensure the integrity of testing, in accordance with state guidelines, students may not bring cell phones or other electronic devices into classrooms or other exam locations during state assessments.

Test proctors, monitors, and school officials have the right to collect cell phones and other prohibited electronic devices prior to the start of the test and to hold them for the duration of the test-taking time.  Admission to the test will be prohibited to any student who has a cell phone or other electronic device in their possession and does not relinquish it.

Students with Individualized Education Plans, Section 504 Plans, or documentation from medical practitioners specifically requiring the use of electronic devices may do so as specified.

Use of Video and/or Audio Recording Devices

The video or audio recording of classroom and extracurricular instruction by visitors or students is prohibited without the prior permission of the classroom teacher, coach, or advisor, and the administrator in charge.

Policy Distribution and Translation

As required by law, the district will post this policy in a clearly visible and accessible location on its website.  Upon request by a student or parent, the district will translate this policy into any of the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English proficient individuals in the state, as identified by the most recent American Community Survey published by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Video or Audio in a Classroom

The video or audio recording of classroom and extracurricular instruction by visitors or students is prohibited without the prior permission of the classroom teacher, coach or advisor, and the administrator in charge.

Ref:
Education Law §2803
Price v. New York City Board of Education, 51 A.D.3d 277, lv. to appeal denied, 11 N.Y.3d 702 (2008) (District may ban possession of cell phones on school property)
NYSED, Prohibition of Cell Phones and Electronic Devices in New York State Assessments, www.nysed.gov/educator-integrity/prohibition-cell-phones-and-electronic-devices-new-york-state-assessments

Board Approved: September 23, 2019; July 28, 2025

As required by NY state law, Canandaigua City School District will prohibit the student use of internet-enabled devices during the school day (including all classes, lunch time, study halls, and passing time) on school grounds.

Additionally, the school day is when students need to be able to focus, learn, interact with each other, build in-person community, and engage with teachers. Study data shows that having a cell phone, even turned off in their backpack, decreases student test scores. A phone and social media free school gives students back many needed opportunities for development.

Prohibited devices include, but are not limited to: cell phones, smart watches or fitness watches, Bluetooth-enabled earbuds/headphones, portable gaming consoles, tablets or laptops not issued by the school, digital media players, and video or audio recording devices.

School security experts say phones can make children less safe in crisis situations for the following reasons:

• Student use of cell phones during an unfolding emergency can distract their attention from safety and emergency response directions being given by school staff.
• Cell phone use by students can hamper rumor control and, in doing so, disrupt and delay effective public safety personnel response.
• Cell phone use by students can impede public safety response by accelerating parental and community arrival at the scene of an emergency during times when officials may be attempting to evacuate students to another site.
• Victims and worried family members trying to get through can jam communications, interfering with first responders.

For more information: National School Safety and Security Services

Parents and/or guardians who need to contact their student during the school day and or change the pick-up time of your child, may do so by calling the main office or emailing your child using the district-provided email addresses. Contacting your child via their cell phone during the school day distracts them from their studies and the needed in-person interaction with their teachers and peers. By having 24/7 access, we prevent growth opportunities that our children need educationally, socially, and developmentally. If students text their parents every time they have a question, they miss the opportunity to think for themselves and develop problem solving skills.

If the student needs to contact their parent or guardian during the school day, a phone will be available in the main office, or by emailing using the district-provided device and their district-provided email address.

For secondary students, they may use their personal devices before school and after school, as long as they are not disrupting school operations or violating the Code of Conduct. Students are not permitted to use their devices on the school bus if it is during the instructional day (BOCES, field trips, etc.).

Students in UPK - 5 are not permitted to use devices on buses to and from school. 

We use a progressive discipline approach that emphasizes consistency, accountability, and support.

• 1st Offense: The device will be held in the main office and returned to the student at the end of the day, with a verbal warning given.
• 2nd Offense: The device will be held in the main office and returned to the student at the end of the day, with a lunch detention assigned.
• 3rd Offense: The device will be held in the main office and a parent/guardian must come and pick it up.
• Each successive offense: The device will be held in the main office and a parent/guardian must come and pick it up. Administration may create a personal device management plan on an individual basis as deemed necessary.

Canandaigua City School District requires documentation from a licensed medical professional to support an exemption such as diabetes or seizure monitoring. This exception is specific to the need only and still prohibits cell phone use for any other purpose.

It is extremely rare for a cell phone to be required for an IEP/504 plan. But if the situation did arise, documentation is required and the exception is specific to the need only and still prohibits cell phone use for any other purposes.

Yes, exemptions may be made for specific educational purposes, as approved by the building administrator. There may also be exemptions for translation services when needed, as well as students who are routinely responsible for the care and well-being of a family member (on a case-by-case basis, upon review and determination by a school psychologist, school social worker, or school counselor in coordination with the building administrator).