Overview

• On July 23 the Panel for Educational Policy approved a citywide ban that puts into effect Governor Kathy Hochul’s statewide bell-to-bell cellphone prohibition
• Starting September 2025, students must power down and stow personal internet-enabled devices during school hours with use allowed only before and after classes
• The city has allocated $25 million and the state provided $4.3 million to equip schools with secure storage solutions and emergency family contact systems
• Carve-outs cover students who need devices for medical monitoring, caregiving duties, language translation, special education plans or authorized classroom activities
• Individual schools are finalizing protocols for locked pouches or lockers, emergency messaging procedures and staff training to ensure consistent enforcement