Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carmen Fariña on Jan. 7 announced that the city will reverse a ban prohibiting the use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices such as iPads in New York City public schools. The city’s existing ban, which has been in place since 1987, requires many students to leave their cellular devices at home or check them with businesses outside school property. New rules will allow each school’s principal to work with teachers and parents to develop a cell phone policy tailored to their needs. The policy change will take effect on March 2.

In response, UFT President Michael Mulgrew issued the following statement:

The UFT has long advocated that schools be free to make their own decisions about how cell phones can be used, while ensuring that student phone use doesn’t get in the way of instruction.