As part of the New York State Budget, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York will require statewide, bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones in K-12 schools. New York State’s distraction-free schools policy applies to all internet-enabled devices and will take effect for the 2025-2026 school year.
All school districts in the state of New York are required to adopt a cell phone policy that prohibits the use of internet-enabled devices from bell-to-bell, by August 1, 2025. Click here to view the Student Cell Phone Policy approved by the Board of Education on July 24, 2025.
Principals will be sharing additional information about the new cell phone policy with students and families before the start of the new school year.