7 New Public Schools Now Open In NYC, New Cellphone Ban In Effect: See Where

NEW YORK CITY — The academic school year has begun in New York City, as seven new schools opened on Thursday, welcoming thousands of students.

The seven new public schools are located in Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island.

The new schools are:

• Central Brooklyn Literacy Academy
• Middle School of Innovation
• The Bronx STEAM Center
• HBCU (Historically Black College & University) Early College Prep High School
• Northwell School of Health Sciences
• Queens International Secondary School
• Staten Island Rise Academy, P.S. 89

When New York City public school students return to school on Thursday, they will be following new rules to keep their cell phones off from the first bell of the day to the last.

As part of the new policy, schools are required to provide at least one method for families to contact their children in case of an emergency. The new policy will be in effect for 1,800 public schools citywide.

The cell phone ban will also target all internet-enabled devices that are not school-issued, like a smartwatch, computer or tablet. The ban also applies to game consoles and MP3 players, according to the NYC Department of Education.

The cellphone ban will include exceptions for students with disabilities and medical reasons, officials said.

How phones will be collected and stored during the day will be up to individual school principals, officials said.

Students who don't follow the new rules will be subject to escalating interventions and disciplinary actions.

Find your school's specific policy here.

New Yorkers: What do you think about the cellphone ban? Take our reader poll here.