SCHOOL-BASED POLICY OF HUDSON HIGH SCHOOL OF LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE USE OF CELL PHONES ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.

Effective September 4, 2025, in accordance with New York State law (see NYS Law(Open external link)) New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) is updating its policy regarding the use of personal internet-enabled electronic devices—including cell phones, tablets, portable music and entertainment systems —in school. This change supports the State's intent to create distraction-free schools, and aims to ensure safe and focused learning environments across all NYCPS schools.

At Hudson High School of Learning Technologies, we will be a phone-free space to improve teaching and learning using a system called Yondr. Yondr has been implemented in over 2,000 schools across 16 countries to facilitate an engaged learning environment. We believe that phones have great utility. We have also found that learning and social behavior improve drastically when students are fully engaged with their teachers and classmates.

Here's how the Yondr Program works: A simple, secure pouch stores a phone. Every student locks their phone in their assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school. They keep their phone with them, but can't use it until their pouch is opened at the end of the school day. Students with outside lunch privileges are the only exception; their pouches can be unlocked for lunch and then re-locked when they come back inside. Students must bring their Yondr pouch to and from school every day and are responsible for it at all times.

• Students who damage or lose the Yondr pouches will then be asked to pay $50 for a replacement, or store their phones in a phone locker for the remainder of the school year.

• Students who are observed with visible cell phones outside of the Yondr pouch  during the school day will receive 1 warning, after which they will be required to store their phone in a locker each day.

We received responses to our annual surveys from over 1,200 school partners, and after implementing the Yondr Education Program:

• 84% saw a change in student engagement

• 72% saw a positive change in student behavior

• 68% saw a positive change in academic performance

Of our most recent impact survey of over 370 of our school partners:

• 86% saw a positive impact in student safety and wellness

If there is an emergency and you would like to get in contact with your child, please reach out to our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Chantel Dawson at  212-488-3330 ext. 1282, cdawson@hudsonhs.com or Assistant Principal, Caterina Lafergola at 212-488-3330 ext. 1292, clafergola@hudsonhs.com.

In an effort to best serve your child, we appreciate your full support in adoption of the Yondr Program at our school.

Confiscation and return of electronic items

Failure to follow the school policy on the use of electronic devices may result in disciplinary action.  Such measures may include, but are not limited to:

• Students who damage or lose the Yondr pouches will then be asked to pay $50 for a replacement, or store their phones in a phone locker for the remainder of the school year.

Restorative Support Framework
Step 1: Formal Warning & Yondr Pouch Compliance Check
Step 2: Confiscation & End-of-Day Return
Step 3: Mandatory Daily Locker Storage
Step 4: Parent Conference
Step 5: Administrative Review For Principal’s Suspension

Personal Responsibility: please note that Hudson High School of Learning Technologies is not responsible for lost or damaged electronic devices.