Nearly 150 New York school districts have already submitted plans to restrict smartphone use during the school day. This comes one week after the State Education Department asked districts to share their distraction-free policies by August 1st.
Governor Kathy Hochul says the early response follows the launch of a new website supporting distraction-free schools.
“As August 1 approaches, more and more districts across New York are thinking creatively about how to implement a bell-to-bell smartphone restriction policy that works best for their unique school community,” Governor Hochul said. “I encourage all schools to learn from these additional examples and resources on our website to develop a plan suited for their students, teachers, and families by the deadline.”
Governor Hochul’s cellphone policy creates a statewide standard for distraction-free schools in New York, including:
- Prohibits 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
This new requirement will take place in the 2025-26 School Year and applies to all schools in public school districts, as well as charter schools and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).
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