Brewster High School Launches Policy Analysis on New York’s Cell Phone Ban

Students in Kayla Corvino’s Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) Intro to the Analysis of Public Policy class are stepping into the role of policy analysts this month as they examine New York State’s new cell phone ban in schools. The project challenges students to research how the policy is being implemented across different regions of the state and to compare those findings with Brewster High School’s current practices.

Each group will focus on one of New York’s ten regions, investigating three schools to learn how they are enforcing the ban, what consequences are in place, and how students, teachers, and parents are responding. Students will then evaluate which regional approach they believe is most effective and explain why.

The goal of the assignment is for students to think critically about public policy, how it is created, interpreted, and carried out, while considering the perspectives of multiple stakeholders including students, families, educators, and policymakers. The final deliverable is a two-page policy analysis report that outlines their research, comparisons, and conclusions.

In their analyses, many students noted the balance and practicality of Brewster’s own approach. One student wrote, “Brewster’s cell phone policy seems to appear to be the most effective and balanced among the other school districts researched. Brewster’s policy succeeds by combining accountability with flexibility; students can face real consequences, but they are also given opportunities to avoid making the same mistakes without any extreme consequences. This interpretation of the cell phone ban promotes responsibility of the students while maintaining positive relationships between students, teachers, and parents.” Another student added, “This accountability system leaves room for students to be able to correct themselves and learn from mistakes.”

To gather their information, students used a mix of research methods and personal outreach. They drew on contacts they’ve made throughout their lives to connect with schools across the state, reaching out to administrators, teachers, and students to learn more about how the ban is being applied. They also examined school websites, student codes of conduct, and social media to find both primary and secondary sources that offered insight into how each community is responding to the new policy.

The project gives students the chance to apply real-world research and analytical skills to a current education issue impacting their own school community. This project is part of Corvino’s Syracuse University PST 101 course, which introduces students to public policy and analysis through hands-on, real-world applications. Students will use this method to investigate problems they see in their community and follow the Policy Analysis steps in order to help mitigate these issues.