June 4, 2025
 

Dear Kings Park Parents, Guardians, and Students:
 
The purpose of this letter is to alert you of a recent change in law that will impact students in September, and to elicit any creative ideas and/or approaches that you might have regarding the law’s implementation.
 
As you may have read in Newsday earlier this week, the NYS Budget approved by lawmakers in May 2025 created a new Section 2803 of the Education Law which provides for the general prohibition of the use of internet-enabled devices by students, during the school day, anywhere on school grounds.
 
The term “internet-enabled devices” includes 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. Devices that do not connect to the internet, as well as internet-enabled devices that are provided to students by the School District for an educational purpose (e.g., school district issued Chromebooks, iPad, or other computer), are not included within the scope of prohibited devices.
 
As defined in the new provision, “school day” encompasses the entire instructional day including, but not limited to, homeroom periods, lunch, recess, study halls, and passing time. “School grounds” includes any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground, or land contained within the real property boundary line of a district elementary, intermediate, junior high, vocational, or high school, a charter school, or a BOCES facility.
 
Districts are required to adopt a policy to address this new law by August 1.  The policy must also include “one or more methods for on-site storage where students may store their internet-enabled devices during the school day.” The statute identifies that a potential storage method can include student lockers. 
 
The District is presently working on this policy and conducting first and second reads at the June 17 and July 1 Board of Education Meetings. 
 
Currently, high school students are permitted to access their phones during non-instructional times, including the passing between classes and lunch.  Unfortunately, this practice will no longer be permitted under the new law, thus the need to modify our current policy and practice. 
 
Mrs. Martino, Kings Park High School Principal, has been working with Student Council this spring to elicit their feedback and input into changes that will be necessary at the high school.  In addition, we have established a Google Form where parents, guardians, and students can provide thoughts and suggestions for the successful implementation of this new law.
 
Thank you in advance for your consideration and input as we look to become compliant with this new law that was recently established by our state lawmakers.
 
 
Sincerely,

Timothy T. Eagen, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Kings Park CSD