Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday said that educators across the state had a positive experience with the newly-implemented school cellphone ban policy, with students showing fewer distractions and stronger social connections.
Announcing results of a state-wide survey, the governor said feedback from nearly 600 educators indicated that students are more active in class discussion, more engaged with their peers, and more focused on their assignments after schools implemented a phone-free policies at the start of the school year in September 2025.
“I successfully fought for New York schools to go phone-free because our kids succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling – and these survey results show our nation-leading policy is working,” Hochul said in a statement. “Teachers overwhelmingly report that without constant smartphone distractions, students are more focused on learning and more engaged with their peers. These are results we can all be proud of, and I congratulate New York students and educators as we near the end of an outstanding school year.”
Some key takeaways from the results include:
Overwhelmingly positive reception: 80% said that implementing a phone-free policy has delivered positive results for their school.
Classroom behavior and engagement: 76% reported positive changes in classroom behavior, such as improved attention, respect for peers, and following directions, and 76% said student engagement increased. The most commonly observed forms of engagement were more active participation in discussions (311 respondents), improved peer collaboration (282), and better focus on assignments (273).
Educators reported improved effectiveness: 75% said their ability to teach effectively improved.
Social connections improved, bullying declined: 80% saw student social connections improve. 60% reported a decline in bullying and cyberbullying incidents.
“When we implemented this policy in September, our goal was clear: to reduce distractions during the school day while continuing to meet every student’s needs," said New York City Public Schools Chief of Safety Mark Rampersant. "While there is still more to learn, this first year has shown that school environments with fewer distractions and more opportunities for connection are having a positive impact on our students.”
