Distraction-Free Schools: Governor Hochul and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos Highlight Smartphone Restrictions in Nation’s Largest School System Starting This Fall

Follows State’s Distraction-Free Schools Law for Bell-to-Bell Smartphone Restrictions in K-12 Schools Statewide

Governor and Chancellor Host Roundtable with Teachers and Administrators Unions, School Safety Officers and Students to Discuss Implementation for New York City Public Schools

All Public School Districts Statewide Must Publish Their Distraction-Free Policy By August 1

State Launched Website with Policy FAQ, Toolkit and Other Key Information for School Districts as They Finalize Policies

Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos today highlighted plans for implementing smartphone restrictions across NYC Public Schools – the nation’s largest school system – when students return this fall. The Chancellor’s proposed regulations for NYC Public Schools will be voted on by the NYC Panel for Education Policy (PEP) on July 23.

The NYC Public Schools plan follows the State’s new Distraction-Free Schools law signed by Governor Hochul this year, which requires bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions in K-12 school districts statewide, starting this fall for the 2025-2026 school year. As part of that law, public school districts statewide must finalize and publish their distraction-free policy by August 1. In addition to NYC Public Schools, many other districts across the state have already developed or finalized their policy. The Governor also recently launched a website with a policy FAQ, toolkit and other key information about the State law as a resource for districts as they finalize their policy by the August 1 deadline.

“Our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling – and that’s why New York will be ready to implement bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions on the first day of school,” Governor Hochul said. “I’m pleased that most school districts across the state have either already implemented or are finalizing their distraction-free policy – and my team continues to provide the resources and tools to ensure every district publishes their policy by the August 1 deadline.”

New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramo said, “As New York City Public Schools works to develop an updated cell phone policy for our schools, one thing has been clear: we must remain guided by the diverse needs and input of our school communities, union partners, elected officials, school staff, and most importantly, our students. Today’s roundtable gives us a chance to engage with these stakeholders in a public forum, hear their feedback, and discuss this policy as it’s developed. I am grateful to our participants for sharing their thoughts and to Mayor Eric Adams for making the investments necessary to lead our students into the future.”

Governor Hochul and Chancellor Aviles-Ramos discussed the plans today at a roundtable at Walton High School that included representatives of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA), school safety officials, students and other key stakeholders throughout the NYC Public Schools system.

This new requirement will take place in the 2025-26 School Year and applies to all schools in public school districts, as well as charter schools and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).

Governor Hochul’s cellphone policy creates a statewide standard for distraction-free schools in New York including:

• Prohibits unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day (from “bell to bell”), including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods
• Allows schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day — giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students
• Secures $13.5 million in funding to be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction-free
• Requires schools to give parents a way to contact their kids during the day when necessary
• Requires teachers, parents and students to be consulted in developing the local policy
• Prevents inequitable discipline

Governor Hochul’s policy clarifies that students will have authorized access to simple cellphones without internet capability, as well as internet-enabled devices officially provided by their school for classroom instruction, such as laptops or tablets used as part of lesson plans.

Additionally, the Governor’s policy includes several exemptions to smartphone restrictions, including for students who require access to an internet-enabled device to manage a medical condition, where required by a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), for academic purposes, or for other legitimate purposes, such as translation, family caregiving and emergencies.