School is back in session on Long Island!

Students in Jericho are heading back to the classroom today -- the first on Long Island to do so.

The new school year in Jericho comes after a US News and World Report list last week named the district's high school as the best on Long Island and the ninth best in New York.

Garden City and Great Neck South rounded out Nassau County's top three. Cold Spring Harbor was Suffolk County's top high school at 33rd in the state, followed by Harborfields and Half Hollow Hills West.

The district also has new leadership.

In March, the Jericho Board of Education named Robert Kravitz as the district's next superintendent of schools following a six-month search.

Kravitz has over 20 years of experience, including most recently as the Fort Lee superintendent of schools since 2021. He is also an adjunct professor at William Patterson University and Saint Peter's University.

There are also several big changes coming to the classroom this year.

New York's new cellphone policy goes into effect starting today.

Each ban varies by specific school district, but generally they require students to turn their personal cellphones and other internet-enabled devices off and store them away in cubbies or lockers from the first bell until dismissal.

This year's state budget requires all school districts that participate in the national school lunch and breakfast program to provide free meals to all students regardless of their families' income.

The change expands free meal eligibility to nearly 300,000 additional students.

Students in the Bethpage and Herricks school districts return to the classroom tomorrow.

The rest of Long Island's school districts return next week after Labor Day.