2025-26 Distraction-Free Schools Annual Report
In compliance with New York State Education Law §2803, enacted as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 State Budget, Jamestown Public Schools implemented its updated Distraction-Free Schools Policy for the 2025–2026 school year. This “bell-to-bell” policy required internet-enabled personal devices, including smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets, to be turned off and securely stored from the beginning to the end of the instructional day.
The primary objectives of the policy are to maximize academic focus, reduce digital distractions, support students’ mental wellness, and foster in-person social connections. As required by state law, the district follows a progressive, educational, and non-exclusionary disciplinary framework. No student may be suspended when the sole basis for the suspension is a violation of this policy.
This annual report provides a transparent, data-driven overview of policy enforcement across district schools and evaluates potential demographic disparities in enforcement.
Policy Enforcement Data by Level
During the 2025–2026 school year, Jamestown Public Schools recorded 283 instances of personal technology use in violation of the district’s Distraction-Free Schools Policy. Of those violations, 257 occurred at the high school level, accounting for approximately 91% of all recorded instances. Middle schools accounted for 25 violations, or approximately 9%, while one violation was recorded at the elementary level.
Non-Identifiable Disciplinary Demographic Data
Of the 283 recorded violations, 146 involved White students, representing approximately 52% of all violations. Hispanic/Latino students accounted for 74 violations, or approximately 26%; Multiracial students accounted for 39 violations, or approximately 14%; and Black/African American students accounted for 24 violations, or approximately 8%.
At the elementary level, the single recorded violation involved a White student. At the middle school level, 19 of the 25 violations involved White students, three involved Hispanic/Latino students, two involved Multiracial students, and one involved a Black/African American student. At the high school level, 126 of the 257 violations involved White students, 71 involved Hispanic/Latino students, 37 involved Multiracial students, and 23 involved Black/African American students.
Demographic Disparity Analysis
White students accounted for approximately 52% of recorded violations, compared with approximately 58% of district enrollment. Hispanic/Latino students accounted for approximately 26% of violations, compared with 27% of enrollment. Multiracial students accounted for approximately 14% of violations, compared with 11% of enrollment. Black/African American students accounted for approximately 8% of violations, compared with 4% of enrollment.
The district will continue reviewing enforcement data to determine whether these differences constitute a statistically significant disparate enforcement impact. This review will use exact enrollment data and account for the fact that the figures represent recorded violations rather than necessarily representing individual students. If a statistically significant disparate impact is identified, the district will develop and publish a mitigation action plan as required by state law.
No student was suspended when the sole basis for the suspension was a violation of the district’s Distraction-Free Schools Policy.