Starting with the 2025-26 school year, a new New York State law prohibits students from having internet-enabled devices during school hours at Dutchess BOCES schools. Exceptions are made only for devices authorized by an individualized education plan or those provided by the school for specific lessons. Upon entering any Dutchess BOCES school, students will be required to power off their device(s), which include, but are not limited to internet-enabled cell phones, watches, tablets and headphones and store them in the designated area, which varies based on the school. The prohibition begins once students enter school and ends upon dismissal, at which point they will be able to retrieve their devices and turn them on. The goal of the distraction-free schools law is to improve learning and enhance the social-emotional well-being of students. You can read more in the report, “More Learning, Less Scrolling: Creating Distraction-Free Schools.”
In case of an emergency, parents may reach students by calling the main office of their child’s school. The contact information and specific information by school are:
● Salt Point Center: Students will power off and place any internet-enabled device and all personal belongings in their bookbags. They may access their device(s) at dismissal. If they need to make a call, they must obtain permission from a teacher to go to the main office and use the phone there. They must have a valid reason for leaving the class that rises to the level of an emergency needing to be addressed at that time. PHONE: 845-486-8004
● Resilience Academy: Upon arrival, students will power off their internet-enabled device(s) and place them and all personal belongings in their lockers. They may access their device(s) at dismissal. If they need to make a call, they must obtain permission from their teacher to go to the main office to make the call and the teacher must call prior to the student leaving the classroom to let the office know who is coming and the purpose. Students must have a valid reason for leaving the class that rises to the level of an emergency needing to be addressed at that time. PHONE: 845-486-4840 ext. 3437 or 3091
● Career and Technical Institute: Upon arrival, students will power off their internet-enabled device(s) and place them and all personal belongings in their lockers. They may access their device(s) at dismissal. If they need to make a call, they must obtain permission from their teacher to go to the main office to make the call and the teacher must call prior to the student leaving the classroom to let the office know who is coming and the purpose. Students must have a valid reason for leaving the class that rises to the level of an emergency needing to be addressed at that time. PHONE: 845-486-8001 ext. 4000
Since school districts determine their own policies on how devices are handled, a student’s home school may have different rules. Students are expected to follow BOCES’ rules while at our schools. Information from each school is being sent home to parents/guardians. Please review it and, if you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school.