July 29, 2025
School will start in about four weeks. Governor Kathy Hochul says her ban on cell phones for grade school and high school students is going to greatly help young students with study habits and their ability to speak and socialize with others. The governor also says, school districts must have their school policies on this issue done and published, by August 1.
FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE:
Governor Hochul’s bell-to-bell 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
