Six months after Gov. Kathy Hochul’s “bell-to-bell” phone-free schools law took effect statewide, administrators and mental health professionals at Oceanside High School say the change is reshaping student life in ways that go far beyond academics.
The law bans student use of smartphones and other personal internet-enabled devices throughout the school day in public and charter schools. Devices must be stored from the opening bell to dismissal, with limited exceptions for students with medical needs, individualized education programs and emergencies.
At Oceanside High, Principal Brendon Mitchell said the transition has been smoother than many initially expected — and the benefits are increasingly visible…