Policy Services

Policy is a set of broad written guidelines created by the board of education to chart your school district’s course of action. Policy is your school board’s single most important function.

A policy banning the use of smartphones during the school day is required by law as of 8/1/2025. NYSSBA is providing our sample policy on smartphones to all members:

• Policy 5695, Students and Personal Electronic Devices

Your board policy can also help you address equity in your district. As part of its ongoing commitment to equity, NYSSBA has created the following sample policy materials on Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity in Education for school districts, available at no charge:

• Policy 0105
• Regulation 0105-R
• Exhibit 0105-E

For additional guidance and support, NYSSBA can help your district develop policies that promote effective governance, efficient administration and educational excellence – with these four policy offerings:

• The Essential Policy Manual
• Policy Update
• E-Policy
• Policy by Design

NYSSBA also provides these resources:

• Policy Index 
• List of Legally Required Policies
  
• Annual Parent Notification Requirements
  For a copy of the annual notification requirements as an excel document, please email policy@nyssba.org.

In addition, your NYSSBA membership gives you the following at no charge:

• Limited sample policies, including
  
  • Sample Policy 2520, School Board Member Training
• Expert guidance
  
  

NYSSBA Policy Services are provided to you by expert consultants with more than 35 years’ combined experience. For more information, contact our NYSSBA Policy Services Team at 800.342.3360 or via email at policy@nyssba.org.