NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- New York City public schools will ban cellphones in schools starting with the upcoming school year, Mayor Eric Adams said Thursday, as similar measures are being implemented statewide and across the country.
Earlier this month, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a “bell to bell” ban for New York, making it the largest state in the nation to require restrictions on smartphones in K-12 schools during the school day.
“We will have no cellphones in a child’s hand from the moment they enter school until they leave,” Hochul said. “No more memes instead of math.”
Adams said NYC’s updated phone and electronic device policy—impacting 1,600 public schools across the five boroughs—will provide a “citywide standard for distraction-free schools.”
Under the regulation, starting in the 2025-2026 school year, all personal internet-enabled devices—such as smartphones, tablets and smart watches—cannot be used during the school day by students.
Adams said kids are in school to learn and that phones are instead often “distracting, degrading, and dangerous.”
It's unclear how exactly the rules will be enforced. Other districts have had students store their devices in bins or lockers during school hours.
“We know that excessive cell phone use is harmful to our children’s concentration and mental health, and, with this new policy, we will finally reduce distractions as we help our students reach their full potential,” Adams said in a statement.
One grandmother told 1010 WINS on Thursday that the ban is a great idea, as kids are in an unproductive “daze” most of the time. “When they’re distracted on the phone, they don’t pay any attention. I see my grandson, when he’s on his iPad, he pays attention to nobody.”
Public Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos said she’s seen firsthand, as an educator and parent, how “constant access to cell phones in the classroom distracts from learning, divides attention, and significantly impacts our students’ mental health.”
There are some exceptions to the ban for students who need devices for medical reasons, are responsible for the care of a family member, have a stipulation in their Individual Education Program, or if a device is authorized for a specific educational purpose.
Under the measure, schools are also required to have one method for families to reach their children during the school day in the case of an emergency and are also required to provide a secure way to store the devices.