Hochul Victory Lap: Statewide Cellphone Restrictions Begins as New School Year Starts in New York

As the 2025–2026 academic year begins this week, students across New York State will face a new reality: strict cellphone restrictions in schools.

The change comes after the 2026 Fiscal Year budget, passed in May, set aside more than $13 million to support districts in rolling out bell-to-bell bans on cellphones and other internet-connected devices. School systems were required to finalize and publish their plans by August 1st.

To help families navigate the transition, New York State has launched an online portal where parents and students can review the rules specific to their district. Nearly 1,090 public schools, charter schools, and BOCES programs have already shared their cellphone policies through the site.

Governor Kathy Hochul voiced her support for the initiative, emphasizing its focus on learning.

“Our kids succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling - and that’s why schools across New York will be ready to implement bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions this fall,” Hochul said. She added, “As we look ahead to the start of the school year, communication is key - our new online resource is making it easier for parents and students to review their school’s plan.”

The new regulations uniformly bar the unsanctioned use of smartphones and similar devices during the entire school day, covering all settings from classrooms and lunchrooms to study halls.

While many districts are opting for Yondr pouches to secure phones, others have chosen alternative strategies to enforce compliance.

Families can access the cellphone policy search tool, along with further details about the statewide ban, through the official New York State website.

Find your policy here: https://www.governor.ny.gov/programs/eliminating-distractions-new-york-schools

Statewide Cellphone Restrictions Begin as New School Year Starts in New York