New York to become largest state in nation with statewide, bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones in schools

Requires schools to give parents a way to contact students during school day when necessary; schools will have flexibility to create their own implementation plan

Submitted by the Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul

Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced New York is becoming the largest state in the nation to require statewide, bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones in K-12 schools.

The governor secured this landmark victory as part of the agreement on the fiscal year 2026 state budget. Following this agreement and enactment of the budget, New York state’s distraction-free schools policy will take effect this fall for the 2025-26 school year.

The announcement builds on Hochul’s nation-leading commitment to protecting youth mental health and promoting student success in the digital age, following her action last year to secure and sign a first-in-the-nation law to restrict addictive social media feeds for minors.

“New York was the first state to target addictive social media feeds – and now we’re the largest state to restrict smartphones in schools throughout the entire school day,” Hochul said. “I know our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling – and that’s why New York continues to lead the nation on protecting our kids in the digital age.” 

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).

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

√ No 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.

Hochul’s policy clarifies that students would still be authorized to have 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.

Hochul pursued this initiative after engaging in a statewide listening tour with teachers, parents and students, and gathering findings to support the need for greater cellphone restriction in our schools. Her report “More Learning, Less Scrolling: Creating Distraction-Free Schools” includes:

√ 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.

√ 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.

The policy underscores the governor’s longstanding commitment to protecting youth mental health.

In June 2024, Hochul signed the Safe for Kids Act after strongly advocating for and securing passage of the legislation. That law, the first of its kind to be signed in any state in the nation, requires social media companies to restrict addictive feeds on their platforms for users under 18. Unless parental consent is granted, users under 18 will not receive addictive feeds. Hochul also signed the New York Child Data Protection act, which prohibits online sites and connected devices from collecting, using, sharing or selling personal data of anyone under the age of 18, unless they receive informed consent or unless doing so is strictly necessary for the purpose of the website.

As part of Hochul’s $1 billion investment in mental health statewide, the governor has also significantly expanded access to mental health care and resources for students. Last year, the state made available $20 million in start-up funding for more school-based mental health clinics and launched a rolling application, which made it easier for interested schools to establish these satellites than through the previously used state procurement process. Since that announcement in February 2024, the state has funded 71 new clinic satellites – including 40 in high-needs districts – adding to the more than 1,100 that now exist statewide.

New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person said, “This isn’t about being anti-phone or anti-technology – it’s about being pro-childhood. We’re giving students seven hours a day free from distractions so they can focus on learning, access their creativity, and make real human connections. Tackling social media and technology use as a public health issue will take continued partnership, education and courage – and New York is ready to lead the way.”

Phones Free New York Founder Raj Goyle said, “I thank Gov. Hochul and the Legislature for their truly courageous stand in protecting our children from the harmful effects of smartphones at schools. As a New York dad of two teenage girls, I am proud that New York will be the largest state in the country with a bell-to-bell ban. We look forward to working with school districts in implementing this groundbreaking law. It’s a new day for our kids and teachers alike.”

Mothers Against Media Addiction Founder and Executive Director Julie Scelfo said, “Smartphones are designed to be addictive in a way that makes it harder for kids to focus and learn. As parents, we are grateful to Gov. Hochul and the lawmakers who led this effort to support engaged, distraction-free learning in our schools, making New York a model for the rest of the nation. MAMA volunteers are energized by this victory – five states down, and only 45 more to go.”