Cellphone Ban Approved for All New York Schools

New York lawmakers have agreed to ban cellphones in classrooms across New York State.

The end of the 2024/25 school year is only a couple of months away, with most schools wrapping up the year by the end of June. The end of the school year is always significant, but this year, when school ends, it will be the last year that New York schools allow kids to use something significant.

Cellphones Banned in New York Schools

New York State lawmakers finally agreed on a massive state budget topping out at $254 billion earlier this week. The budget was passed Monday, and for the first time ever, it included a new plan that will remove cellphones from students during school hours. New York Governor Kathy Hochul made the cellphone ban announcement, saying, "We’ve protected our kids before from cigarettes, alcohol, and drunk driving, and now we’re protecting them from addictive technology designed to hijack their attention."

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Gov. Hochul didn't reveal the "bell-to-bell" specifics but did say the ban would begin in September and aims to remove the distraction some children experience by having their cellphones with them during school hours. The ban will restrict students from accessing their phones during school hours, according to the Associated Press.

How Will Schools Enforce a Cellphone Ban?

Each school district will be allowed to come up with its own enforcement plan to keep phones out of classrooms, with most schools expected to implement a secured storage system..

"All public schools will implement policies to free students from smartphones and other devices," said Gov. Hochul. "We need classrooms where young minds can flourish, and that means eliminating once and for all the digital distraction that steals our kids’ attention."

Removing cellphones from school is also expected to improve children's mental health.