District follows state ban on student cellphone use all school day

What happened

A September 2026 internal audit risk assessment says the district put procedures in place for New York's bell-to-bell cellphone ban. Student devices are collected and stored at the start of each class period and returned at the end of the day or class block.

Why it matters to families

It changes the school day for students: phones are collected and stored during class periods instead of being kept in pockets or bags.

The evidence

The Sept. 9 risk assessment report describes the procedures. The Howitt Middle School handbook (undated) separately says phones, watches, earbuds and tablets are off and put away from 7:55 a.m. to 2:42 p.m.

The source