PUBLIC SCHOOL 65 • P.S. 065K

Policy statement:

Students will not be permitted to use or access their personal internet-enabled electronic devices upon arrival at school until the end of the school day. The school day is defined as the period from the moment students enter the school building until the last class of the day ends, including during lunch. The school day starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 2:35 p.m. Students will be able to use school/NYCPS-issued devices during the school day.

1. COLLECTION/STORAGE

• Upon arrival, students must power off their devices.
• P.S. 065K will adopt the locked phone case method:
  • Students will place their devices in a NuKase, a hard shelled indistructable, lockable phone case, and a staff member upon arrival will lock it shut with a simple click.
  • Students will store their locked NuKase in their bookbags for the day. The phone will be inaccessible within the NuKase.
  • At the end of the school day, students will hand their NuKase back to a designated dismissal staff member who will unlock their NuKase and retrieve students’ phones with no hassle and no distractions.
  • Students with approved early dismissal will be able to unlock their pouch in security from Agent Taylor or another School Safety Designee.
  • In the event that a storage device is lost or damaged, the school will replace the NuKase, however, after the second time, we will require a nominal fee for a replacement of $20.00

2. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

• To reach your child in case of emergency or exigent circumstances, parents or guardians can call our three secretaries in the main office:
  • ➔ Ms. Martinez: 718-235-2223 extension 1058
  • ➔ Ms. Garcia: 718-235-2223 extension 1057
  • ➔ Ms. Espada: 718-235-2223 extension 1056
• In case of emergency or exigent circumstances, we will be contacting you from the main office, so please make sure your students have an up to date blue card to reach you as quickly as possible.
• In case of emergency or exigent circumstances, the school will use GAMA and Classroom Dojo to communicate information to parents or guardians.
• a. Here is how parents/guardians can access the automated messaging system: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/student-journey/nyc-schools-account
• Students may access main office phones in emergencies.

3. EXCEPTIONS

• Students are allowed to use their device if they have an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 Plan that includes use of an internet-enabled device and do not have a DOE-issued device for such purpose.
• Parents/guardians must contact Assistant Principal Mohamed or IEP Teacher Mary Maraldo if a student requires an exception for reasons such as: medical monitoring/treatments (for example to monitor blood sugar or other similar circumstances), if student is a caregiver, for approved language purposes (such as translation or interpretation services if no other means are available), or where otherwise required by law.
• The principal may authorize use for an educational purpose.
• Exceptions will be processed and approved as soon as possible.

4. DISCIPLINE

Students who use electronic devices in violation of the NYCPS Discipline Code, the school's policy, Chancellor's Regulation A-413, and/or the NYCPS Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy ("IAUSP") will be subject to progressive discipline. This means that the disciplinary responses will escalate based on the nature and frequency of the violation. As provided in the State law, a student may not be suspended solely on the grounds that the student accessed a personal internet-enabled device in violation of school policy . Repeated incidents of insubordination (i.e. refusal to surrender or store devices) may result in a suspension if approved by the Office of Safety and Youth Development.

5. OTHER: If lost or stolen

• In the unlikely event that an electronic device is stolen or damaged at school, parents can submit a claim to the Comptroller’s Office. More information on submitting a claim is available on the Comptroller’s webpage .

6. Correspondence and Communication:

Policy will be posted on Classroom Dojo for all parents before the start of the school year as well as sent on Gama. It will also be pinned in Google Classrooms, Townhalls will be held, and phone blasts will remind parents weekly of the cellphone policy