At its May 6, 2025 meeting, the Guilderland Central School District Board of Education adopted a policy (Policy 5695, Students and Personal Electronic Devices) to create distraction-free learning environments to comply with a New York State law restricting cellphone use in schools that was passed in April 2025.
The GCSD policy requires that personal electronic devices, such as cellphones, smart watches, Bluetooth/wireless headphones or other mobile communication devices be put away, from the start of the school day until the end of the regular school day. By removing the devices that detract from students’ academic performance and contribute to higher rates of bullying and youth mental health issues, the district is strengthening its commitment to a focused and supportive learning environment.
With the start of the 2025-26 school year, GCSD students at the elementary and middle school levels must have devices turned off and placed in a locker or cubby. Students attending Guilderland High School must have devices turned off and stored in a Yondr pouch, provided by the district, during the regular school day.
How the Yondr program at GHS will work
Each GHS student will be assigned a Yondr pouch, which is a secure, lockable case for storing personal devices. Students are responsible for bringing their pouch to and from school each day as well as keeping it in good condition.
- Upon arrival: students will power off phones, Bluetooth/wireless headphones and smartwatches (or switch to airplane mode), place their devices in the pouch and lock it.
- During the day: students will keep locked Yondr pouches in a backpack or locker.
- At dismissal: students will unlock Yondr pouches at designated stations to retrieve their devices.
This process is quick, simple and will be supervised by staff as part of the daily routine. More information about how Yondr pouches work can be found here.
How students will stay connected
The safety of GCSD students is a top priority; in the event of an emergency, GHS will follow the safety procedures students and staff have been trained to implement and the district will communicate with families through ParentSquare. If you need to reach your child during the school day, please contact the GHS main office at 518-861-8591.
More about Yondr pouches
Use of Yondr pouches is a proven approach that supports student focus, well-being and connection by removing personal electronic devices during the school day.
For more than a decade, Yondr has helped schools across all 50 states and more than 35 countries build healthier, more engaging school cultures. Their pouch-based program, combined with hands-on guidance and dedicated support, has led to significant results:
- 86% reported improved safety and student wellness
- 84% saw increased engagement in class
- 68% experienced academic gain
- 44% reduced behavioral referrals