BHSEC-M Cell Phone Policy – Fall 2025
Effective: September 2025
To foster a distraction-free academic environment and comply with Chancellor’s Regulation A-413 and New York State Education Law 2803, Bard High School Early College Manhattan has implemented the following cell phone and electronic device policy. The purpose of this policy is simple but powerful: to create a focused and productive learning environment where students can engage without distraction, think critically, and prepare for both college and life beyond. This policy was developed in collaboration with the School Leadership Team and will undergo annual review.
Students will not have access to their devices at any point during the school day. This includes passing periods (the 4 minutes between each class), study periods (AKA free periods), or lunch. Students who choose to leave the school building to get lunch off campus will not have their phones returned to them for their trip outside of the school building.
To ensure that students and families can reach each other in cases of emergency, school landline phones are available throughout the school building.
Parents can call the school’s main phone line at 212-995-8479 to request to speak with their student. In most cases, a callback number will be requested and students will return their parents’ phone call as soon as possible.
Students may request the use of a landline phone to call their parents during the school day. This should occur during a study or lunch period, or with written permission from a teacher. In cases of emergency, students will be permitted to use the phone in the Main Office or the nurse’s office immediately.
Landline phones are available upon request in the following school spaces:
| Room Number | Staff Name | Staff Role |
| 204 | Jasmine Coombs | Smart Scholars Director |
| 205 Book Room | Betty Zeneli | School Aide |
| 207 | Nurse’s Office | School Nurse |
| 209 | Sylvie Epstein | Admissions Director |
| 209 | Beth Cheikes | Director of College Transfer Office |
| 209 | Val Thomson | Senior Advisor to the Principal |
| 228 Main Office | Carol Turitz | Parent Coordinator |
| 228 Main Office | Zayra Taveras | Administrative Assistant |
| 332 | Stacie Millman | Guidance Counselor (students L-Z) |
| 405 | Claire Nolan | Librarian |
| 407A | Bill Hinrichs | Dean of Academic Life |
| 407B | Adeodat Ilboudo | Dean of Studies |
| 422 | Jess Chock-Goldman | Director of Clinical Services |
| 526 | Anna Azeglio-Stranahan | Guidance Counselor (students A-K) |
All requests for exceptions will be submitted to the Main Office using the BHSEC Cell Phone Policy Exception Request form. Requests will be reviewed by appropriate school staff and will be approved or denied by the principal. Requests that do not receive approval may be resubmitted once per marking period.
Students with medical needs may be permitted to carry and use personal internet-enabled electronic devices during the school day when absolutely necessary for healthcare management. A licensed medical provider must confirm in writing that the device is medically necessary to monitor or alert the student regarding a medical condition. Students with a documented medical exception may use the device only as specified in the approved plan—for example, to receive alerts from a glucose monitor or insulin pump. All other policy rules remain in effect.
Students may be eligible for an exception to the school’s personal device policy if:
When a student does not follow this policy, our primary goal is to guide behavior in a supportive and respectful manner. If students are seen with phones or smartwatches in the school building, school personnel will simply help the student be in compliance with the policy. This means that the student’s device will be put in its designated bin until the end of the school day, at which time the device will be returned to the student following normal protocols. Students will not be suspended solely for cell phone policy violations.
Consistent with the NYC DOE’s Citywide Behavioral Expectations and the school’s commitment to restorative practices, our responses are designed to promote accountability, rebuild trust, and strengthen our learning community. All incidents of non-compliance will be addressed using a progressive, developmentally appropriate approach. In addition to the approach stated above, this may include:
In rare cases where device misuse persistently disrupts the school environment, more formal corrective actions may be considered in accordance with the NYC DOE Discipline Code, ensuring that all steps are aligned with the principles of fairness, dignity, and student growth.
Throughout this process, our focus remains on supporting a productive learning environment, learning from mistakes, and fostering the habits of self-regulation and responsible decision-making. Families are viewed as essential partners in this work and will be engaged early and meaningfully.
This policy reflects our shared commitment at BHSEC Manhattan to creating a learning environment where every student can thrive—an environment rooted in respect, focus, and intellectual curiosity. In alignment with New York City regulations and New York State education law, this policy ensures that our school remains a safe and supportive place for deep learning and academic risk-taking.
As part of the Bard College network, BHSEC is guided by the belief that high school students are capable of college-level work when they are given the structure, trust, and freedom to engage fully in their studies. By setting clear expectations around the use of personal devices, we are safeguarding the time and space needed for meaningful dialogue, rigorous scholarship, and authentic community building.
