Technology Policy & Home Recommendations

In-School Policy
We strongly recommend that students refrain from bringing phones to school. However, for those who do, the following guidelines will apply:

Grades 1–4

  • Students in grades 1- 4 are not permitted to bring phones or devices to school at any time.

  • Smartwatches, game watches, or any watch with a camera or messaging capability are not allowed in school.

  • Any violation of these rules will result in the consequences outlined below.

Grades 5–8
All families of students in grades 5–8 will be required to complete a mandatory technology form indicating:

  • Whether their child has a phone

  • Whether the phone will be brought to school

  • The type of phone and the phone number

If a phone is brought to school:

  • All phones (smart or basic) will be collected and stored in locked cases for the school day.

  • Phones must be handed in before Tefilah and will be returned only at dismissal.

  • Phones are not permitted on school trips.

  • Phones may not be used until the student has fully left school property (e.g., on the bus, in a car, or beyond the gates).

  • Students arriving late or leaving early will deposit or retrieve their phones at the front desk.

  • If a phone is not handed in, the school reserves the right to check lockers, bags, or pockets.

  • Smartwatches, game watches, or watches with cameras or messaging abilities are not allowed in school.

Consequences

  • Any violation (e.g., failing to hand in a phone, using a phone during the day, bringing in a smartwatch, submitting a decoy device, etc.) will result in the confiscation of the device for 7 days.

  • After 7 days, the device will only be returned following a meeting between the student, parent(s), and an administrator.

  • Repeated violations may result in additional disciplinary action, including documentation in the student’s permanent record, suspension, or expulsion.

Recommendations for Technology Use Outside of School

Yeshivat He’Atid strongly recommends that students not receive a smartphone before high school. If a phone is necessary for communication or logistics, a basic non-smartphone is advised.

Additional recommendations:

  • All devices (including shared home computers, tablets, and personal devices) must be closely monitored and filtered by parents.

  • Students should not have access to any social media platforms (including but not limited to Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat).

  • Access to YouTube and CapCut is strongly discouraged.

  • Group chats on any platform are strongly discouraged. 

If you allow your child to participate in a group chat, it must be actively monitored by parents.