News Details

Beginning on the first day of the 2025-2026 school year, a new statewide "Bell to Bell" ban on personal electronic devices, including cell phones, takes effect in all K-12 schools. This new "Bell to Bell" ban is New York State law, and all school districts are required to implement it.

This means that personal electronic devices, including phones, tablets, and smartwatches, will not be allowed in student hands from the moment they enter a school building or are on school grounds until they leave for the day. This includes all school activities such as class time, lunch, free periods, and passage time between classes. School-issued devices are exempt and will continue to support appropriate technology use in the classroom. 

We are actively developing a policy to ensure a smooth transition that fosters a distraction-free learning environment for all Rondout Valley students. While this is a statewide mandate, the legislation allows for flexibility, and we are diligently working to craft a plan that is specific to the unique needs of our district, including exploring secure storage solutions for personal student devices. In addition, we acknowledge the importance of parents/guardians staying connected with their children during the school day. While this new law will necessitate changes in communication procedures, we assure you that students will be able to contact their parents while at school.

We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, and concerns regarding Rondout Valley’s approach to implementing this new regulation; your feedback will be invaluable in shaping our district's policy. Please provide your input by July 9, 2025.

To provide your feedback, use this link: https://bit.ly/3HLtKPO 

For more information regarding this new statewide legislation, the full text can be found here: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EDN/2803 

We will continue to keep you informed about the finalized policy and its implementation as the 2025-2026 school year draws nearer. Thank you for your understanding and partnership as we work together to support our students' academic success and well-being.
 

Sincerely,

Paul M. Spadaro, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Rondout Valley Central School District

To view a printable version of this letter, click here.