Wednesday, June 18, 2025
New York would prohibit cellphone use in public schools “bell to bell” beginning in the 2025-26 school year under a tentative agreement reached late Monday between Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers.
The plan, part of the negotiations of the state’s $252 billion fiscal year 2026 budget, would restrict the use of smartphones and other internet-enabled devices on school grounds throughout the school day, including during class, lunch and study halls.
In recent years, many young people have come to feel as if smartphones are nothing less than an extension of themselves, keeping them in touch with the world as they rely ever more heavily on technology. But do their devices affect students’ ability to learn in school?
According to the National Institutes of Health, smartphones may have detrimental effects on learning and memory, and a reliance on them has been linked to a form of psychological dependency.
Hochul agrees, and introduced the proposal to ban cellphones in schools in January.
“This is about helping students focus, reducing distractions, and improving mental health,” she said when introducing the proposal. “We must put our kids in the best possible environment to learn and succeed.”
Under the agreement, schools would be tasked with developing their own methods for collecting and storing students’ devices. Hochul’s proposal includes roughly $13.5 million in state funding to help districts purchase storage options such as cubbies, pouches or lockers. Students would still be able to bring non-internet-enabled phones, and exemptions would be made for those with medical needs, language translation requirements, or those with individualized education programs.
The proposal would also require schools to ensure that parents have a way to contact their children during the day if needed.
In a statement, the Lynbrook school district administration expressed support for the ban, highlighting the importance of minimizing distractions and promoting engagement. “In fact, our district has already implemented cell phone restrictions that balance educational needs with student well-being,” the statement read.
East Rockaway school officials said their district maintains a similar approach. At East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School, students in seventh through ninth grades are prohibited from using phones except during lunch in the cafeteria. Upperclassmen may use them only in designated areas during breaks, or outside classrooms.
It remains unclear whether the new policy would prevent such allowances, but under Hochul’s plan, students would not be allowed to keep their phones in backpacks or in their possession during the day.
Lilah Walsh, a senior at Lynbrook High School, said her screen time on her iPhone is 11 hours and 27 minutes a day on average— and according to the phone’s data, she uses TikTok, Disney+ and SnapChat most often.
“I probably spend too much time on my phone, but I really don’t feel anxious without it,” she said. “I don’t use my phone in school that much anyways because I’m busy and doing sports after.”
Lucas Elena, a freshman at the high school, said that a complete ban might go too far. “I use it to meet up with friends, let my parents know things, set reminders, and much more,” Elena said of his phone.
Still, many parents said they believe restricting phones in school helps students focus. “I don’t think kids should have phones in the classroom at all,” Lynbrook parent Cara Rose said. “Maybe keep them in their locker, but that’s it.”
In her January budget address, Hochul said she was motivated by concerns raised during statewide roundtables with teachers and students.
“Teachers are calling this out across the country,” she said at the time. “Ninety-five percent of students have access, and are receiving on average 250 notifications a day.”
The proposed ban would include internet-enabled smartwatches in addition to smartphones. Classroom devices provided by schools would still be permitted.
Debate on the full budget proposal and the cellphone ban is continuing in the State Legislature, with final details expected to be resolved in the coming days.
