(WENY) — New York will become the nation’s largest state to bar smartphones and other internet-enabled devices for the entire school day beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday, June 27th.
Under the plan, every public school district must adopt and post a “distraction-free” policy by August 1st that keeps personal devices out of reach “from bell to bell.” The move follows months of discussions with teachers unions, administrators, PTA leaders and child-advocacy groups, all of whom support the change as a way to improve classroom focus and bolster students’ mental health.
“I’ll never stop working to deliver the best results for our kids, and that’s why the era of smartphone distractions in New York schools ends today,” Hochul said. “My team is working with key stakeholders across the state to ensure school districts finalize and publish their distraction-free policy by the August 1 deadline. When students return this fall, New York’s distraction-free schools will deliver the best possible learning environments and they’ll help give our kids their childhood back.”…