Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday said New York will require statewide, bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones in K-12 schools starting in the fall.
This new requirement applies to all public schools, as well as charter schools and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), according to a press release.
"I know our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling," she said.
The governor provided some guidelines to the new rule, part of the state's fiscal year 2026 budget. It includes:
- 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.
- The state will provide $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.
Students would still be authorized to have access to simple cellphones without internet capability, as well as internet-enabled devices officially provided by their school for classroom instruction, such as laptops or tablets used as part of lesson plans.
Additionally, the policy includes several exemptions, including for students who require access to an internet-enabled device to manage a medical condition, where required by a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), for academic purposes, or for other legitimate purposes, such as translation, family caregiving and emergencies.
