Public school students in New York will no longer be allowed to use their phones during school hours starting in September, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday.
The governor said the looming ban on smartphones in schools will finally take effect this fall, in time for the 2025-2026 academic year. It applies to all kindergarten through grade 12 public schools in the state.
Hochul said New York will be the largest state in the nation to require a statewide, bell-to-bell restriction on smartphones in schools. Her victory was announced as part of the state’s FY2026 budget, and includes a $13.5 million allocation for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage space for the phones during the day.
“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,” 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.”
The policy applies to public and charter schools. It also requires schools to provide parents with a way to contact their children during the day when necessary.
Hochul said she enacted the policy after speaking with teachers, parents and students statewide to gather information for her report, “More Learning, Less Scrolling: Creating Distraction-Free Schools.”
Per the report, the governor found that smartphones distract students and inhibit learning and creativity. She has previously said in media reports that phone-free environments “do not compromise” student safety and help support mental health of both students and staff.
“This isn’t about being anti-phone or anti-technology, it’s about being pro-childhood,” NYS United Teachers President Melinda Person said. “We’re giving students seven hours a day free from distractions so they can focus on learning, access their creativity, and make real human connections. Tackling social media and technology use as a public health issue will take continued partnership, education, and courage, and New York is ready to lead the way.”
Parents and teachers react to the school cellphone ban: ‘fighting a losing battle’
Parents and teachers have mixed feelings about the new policy.
Veronica Miller, a mom from Staten Island, said she supports the ban to help keep kids free from distraction as they are learning.
“I also believe the children’s 24/7 exposure to 5G radiation via EMF and blue light led exposure is detrimental to their health,” she said.
But Christine Crispino of the same borough feels differently..
“I would want my child to have their phone to contact me in case of an emergency, such as a school shooting,” she said. “Very scary times we live in.”
Audra, an NYC public high school teacher, said she is “fighting a losing battle” to get her teenage students to put their phones away.
“As a high school teacher, cell phone use is literally the main disciplinary concern I have among my students,” she said. “Asking these students to put their phones away even for 10 minutes is like asking the to remove a limb.”
She said the ban is a “great idea,” but has concerns about implementation.
“Because even though the expectation is that students don’t use their phones, currently there’s really not much that can be done about it,” she explained. “We teachers can’t take their phones away from them, administration doesn’t take the phones away from them.”
It is not yet clear how schools will store the phones. However, the new policy allows schools to develop their own plans for storing phones during the day, giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to “do what works best for their buildings and students,” according to a press release from the governor’s office.
