Gov. Kathy Hochul Has Officially Banned Cell Phones in Schools
The cell phone ban will have bell-to-bell restrictions.
It’s official: New York has become the largest state in the nation to require statewide, bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones in K-12 schools. The announcement came on Tuesday, May 6, as New York Governor Kathy Hochul touted the legislation with pride in Albany.
“New York was the first state to target addictive social media feeds — and now we’re the largest state to restrict smartphones in schools throughout the entire school day,” Governor Hochul said. “I know our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and that’s why New York continues to lead the nation on protecting our kids in the digital age.”
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Under the new legislation, cell phones would be banned in classrooms in grades K through 12 across all schools in New York State. However, some details remain murky as schools begin to prepare for the 2025-2026 school year. School districts will have until August to craft their own plans for how to store phones, enforce the ban, and pay for it.
The cell phone ban is part of Hochul’s plan to protect youth mental health and promote student success in the digital age. The idea of a ban was first discussed at the beginning of this year, when Governor Hochul proposed it as part of her Executive Budget Proposal.
“Our young people can succeed in the classroom when they’re learning and growing – not clicking and scrolling,” Hochul said of the issue during a roundtable in the Hudson Valley. “I’ve already learned a great deal on this listening tour from educators and parents who want to deliver the best results for our kids. I’m excited to keep working with all stakeholders to develop effective solutions to address smartphones and other devices in New York’s schools.”
The policy sets a precedent of success for New York state students, with the following being implemented from the legislation:
- No unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day (from “bell to bell”), including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods.
- Allows schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day — giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students.
- Secures $13.5 million in funding to be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction-free.
- Requires schools to give parents a way to contact their kids during the day when necessary.
- Requires teachers, parents and students to be consulted in developing the local policy.
- Prevents inequitable discipline.
The fine print of the ban is still being worked out and includes some loopholes. According to Chalkbeat, students who need their phones for language translation or caregiving responsibilities may qualify for exemptions. Phones without internet access are still allowed. Schools that allow students off campus for lunch will also be allowed to return the cell phone to the student for the duration they are out of the building.
The bill is research-backed and designed to stop distractions. According to Hochul’s research, “More Learning, Less Scrolling: Creating Distraction-Free Schools,” it was found that smartphones distract students and inhibit learning and creativity, and that schools can strengthen their distraction-free environment by connecting more students with in-person engagement like clubs, sports, arts and other programming.
“I know our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and that’s why New York continues to lead the nation on protecting our kids in the digital age,” says Hochul.
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