Students of New York public schools will no longer be able to use their phones during school hours from September, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.
The president reported that the prohibition of cell phones in schools will finally enter into force, just in time for the 2025-2026 school year. The measure will apply to all public schools from Kindergarten to the 12th grade in the state.
Hochul pointed out that New York will be the largest state in the country to implement a state ban from Campana to Campana on smartphones in schools. This victory was announced as part of the state budget for fiscal year 2026, which includes an allocation of $ 13.5 million to help schools buy storage spaces where to save the phones during the day.
“New York was the first state to take measures against addictive algorithms on social networks, and now we are the largest state to restrict smartphones throughout the school day,” said Hochul. “I know that our young people succeed when they are learning and growing, not by clicking and sliding their finger – that’s why New York continues to lead the country in the protection of our children in the digital age.”
Politics applies to both public schools and charter. In addition, it demands that schools offer parents a way of communicating with their children during the day if necessary.
Hochul said he adopted this policy after talking with teachers, parents and students from all over the State to collect information for their report “More learning, less screen: creating distraction free schools.”
According to the report, the governor concluded that smartphones distract students and inhibit learning and creativity. In previous interviews with media, Hochul has affirmed that environments without phones do not compromise the safety of students and promote mental health of both students and teaching staff.
“This is not about being against the telephone or technology, but about being in favor of childhood,” said Melinda Person, president of the Nys United Teachers state union. “We are giving students seven hours a day free of distractions so that they can concentrate on learning, release their creativity and make real human connections. Addressing the use of social networks and technology as a public health problem will require continuous collaboration, education and courage, and New York is ready to lead.”
Mixed reactions of parents and teachers before the ban
The new policy has generated opinions between parents and teachers.
Veronica Miller, mother of Staten Island, supported the prohibition to help children stay concentrated during learning.
“I also believe that constant exposure to 5G radiation through EMF and blue light is harmful to their health,” he said.
Instead, Christine Crispino, from the same district, has another opinion.
“I would like my son to have his phone to be able to contact me in case of emergency, like a school shooting,” he said. “We live very scary times.”
Audra, a teacher at a public high school in the city, said he feels that he is “pouring a lost battle” when trying his teenage students to keep their phones.
“As a high school teacher, cellular use is literally my main disciplinary concern,” he explained. “Ask them to keep the phone for only 10 minutes is like asking them to start an arm.”
Although he considers that the ban is a “great idea”, he is concerned about how it will be implemented.
“Because, although students are expected to use their phones, there is not much that we can do about it,” he said. “We, the teachers, cannot take them off, and the administration does not do it either.”
It is not yet clear how schools will store the devices. However, the new policy allows each school to develop its own storage plan during the day, providing directors and teachers with flexibility to “do what works best for their educational community,” according to a press release from the Governor’s office.
