Governor Hochul Launches New Website for Smartphone-Free Schools in New York

Strategic Insights -

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has taken a significant step to promote a distraction-free learning environment in the state's K-12 schools by launching a new website that allows parents and students to find their school's policy on smartphone restrictions. As of this fall, over 96% of the state's 1,090 school districts and schools will have implemented bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions, following a statewide law enacted by Governor Hochul earlier this year. This law aims to prohibit the unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled devices on school grounds during the entire school day, while providing flexibility for schools to develop their own storage solutions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new website, ny.gov/phonefree, allows parents and students to search for their school's policy on smartphone restrictions by district or school name, covering over 1,050 public school districts, charter schools, and BOCES.
  • The law requires bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions in K-12 schools statewide, starting this fall for the 2025-26 school year.
  • The law includes provisions for storage solutions, funding, parental communication, student consultation, and equitable discipline.
  • Exemptions to the smartphone restrictions include authorized access to simple cellphones without internet capability, internet-enabled devices provided by schools, and devices required for medical conditions, academic purposes, or legitimate purposes such as translation or emergencies.

Statistics:

  • 96% of the state's 1,090 school districts and schools will have implemented bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions by the start of the 2025-26 school year.
  • The remaining districts and schools are expected to finalize their policy in the coming days at upcoming school board meetings.
  • $13.5 million in funding will be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction-free.

Sources:

  • [Governor Hochul News Release: "Governor Hochul Launches New Website for New York Parents and Students to Find Their School's Policy for Smartphone Restrictions This Fall"]
  • [www.governor.ny.gov/news]