By Forum Staff
Governor Kathy Hochul recently launched a push to restrict smartphone use in K-12 schools statewide.
Hochul’s legislative proposal to create a statewide standard for distraction-free schools in New York covers requirements and details including:
- No unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day, 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.
- Proposes $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 if needed.
The governor’s proposal also clarifies that students would still be authorized to have access to simple cell phones 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, Hochul’s proposal 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, or for other academic purposes, such as translation.
The new requirement would be in place starting in the 2025-26 School Year and would apply to all schools in public school districts, as well as charter schools and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services.
“The UFT supports a statewide cell phone ban, with safeguards, because educators see the negative impact of cell phones in their classroom every day,” said United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew. “The safeguards include ways for parents to reach students; funding for school districts to implement a plan; uniform disciplinary policies; and plans that don’t make educators the first and only line of enforcement.”
Last week, Hochul also released a new report with recommendations gathered from her statewide listening tour this past year with students, parents and teachers regarding excessive smartphone use in schools.
The analysis, “More Learning, Less Scrolling: Creating Distraction-Free Schools,” includes findings from the governor’s statewide listening tour, such as:
- Smartphones distract students and inhibit learning and creativity
- Phone-free environments do not compromise student safety
- Phone-free environments support the mental health of students and teachers
Recommendations for how schools can prepare to go distraction-free, include:
- Open communication and direct guidance for all stakeholders is key for successful implementation
- Schools must address any parent concerns about staying in contact with their children during the day
- An effective distraction-free policy must focus on the entire school day, rather than solely on time in the classroom
- Schools can strengthen their distraction-free environment by connecting more students with in-person engagement like clubs, sports, arts and other programming
- An implementation guide for schools to consider throughout this process, with references to resources and best practices published by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Education Technology
