Tuesday, July 1st, 2025
Dear Wayland-Cohocton Community:
As many of you know, with the passing of the State budget in the Spring also came an important new statewide mandate that will affect all public schools in New York beginning August 1, 2025. As part of the 2025–2026 New York State Budget, a new law restricts student use of personal internet-enabled devices—including cell phones, smartwatches, bluetooth enabled headphones, and tablets—during the school day on school grounds. This includes all non-instructional periods such as lunch, recess, study hall, 13th period and hallway transitions.
Please note that this is a statewide requirement, and our district is obligated to comply. Our role is to develop and implement a local policy that meets the legal requirements while also being thoughtful, student-centered, and responsive to the needs of our school community.
To help guide this process, we are inviting you to participate in a ThoughtExchange to share ideas and perspectives. This is not about whether you agree or disagree with the mandate itself—we understand that opinions may vary, but the law is not optional. Instead, we are asking families to offer constructive, solution-oriented input that will help us plan for a smooth and supportive transition.
We value your partnership and your voice. Please take a few moments to join the conversation by following the link to our ThoughtExchange.
Thank you for working with us to support a focused and safe learning environment for all students.
Cell Phone & Internet Enabled Device Ban Exchange
Respectfully,
The Wayland-Cohocton Administrative Team