Nearly 150 school districts statewide have already submitted their plans for bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions — well in advance of the state’s Aug. 1 deadline. This wave of early submissions came just one week after the New York State Education Department sent a survey prompting school district leaders to submit distraction-free policies, in accordance with New York State law.
“As Aug. 1 approaches, more and more districts across New York are thinking creatively about how to implement a bell-to-bell smartphone restriction policy that works best for their unique school community,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “I encourage all schools to learn from these additional examples and resources on our website to develop a plan suited for their students, teachers and families by the deadline.”
The state has also launched a website for distraction-free schools, which provides a policy FAQ, external informational toolkit and other resources to help districts as they finalize their policy.
This new requirement will take place for the upcoming 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:
• Prohibits 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
The policy also 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.