New cell phone procedures for the new school year

Student unlocking a cell phone pouch at school

As we get ready to start the new school year Sept. 4, a reminder that the City School District of Albany will have new cell phone procedures in place for the entire school day at all schools.

At the middle school and high school level, students will pick up a locking pouch when they arrive at school in the morning. Cell phones and other personal electronic devices will remain in the locked pouch for the full school day, and then students can unlock it and drop off the pouch before leaving the building in the afternoon.

The one exception to this at the secondary level is our Tony Clement Center for Education, which will continue with the cell phone procedures it has had in place for students for several years.

At the elementary level, students will be required to keep their phones off and out of sight for the full school day. Each school will have its own procedures for this.

These new guidelines, which Gov. Kathy Hochul has mandated for all New York schools, are intended to cut down on distractions during the school day and create a more focused learning environment for all students. 

Parents and guardians, if you need to contact your student at school during the day, you can call the office number at your school (or your academy office at Albany High School) and a staff member will relay a message. Our schools also use Language Line Solutions to assist with translation.

You can check out our FAQs for more information about this new policy and related procedures. 

Wishing everyone a great start to the 2025-26 school year!

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