Overview

• New York’s new law bars K–12 students from using personal internet-enabled devices during the school day, with districts deploying Yondr pouches for high schoolers and secured lockers, caddies or lockboxes for younger grades.
• Each school was required to publish a separation policy for the first day back, with exemptions for medical needs, learning accommodations, translation, caregiving and emergencies.
• NYC officials say families will reach students through a live school phone line and will receive real-time alerts during crises, and students can make emergency calls when necessary.
• Early reports point to louder cafeterias and more face-to-face interaction, and a Manhattan high school that piloted a bell-to-bell ban saw higher GPAs, improved passing rates and better senior attendance.
• Some educators and students cite practical concerns over enforcement tools and tech failures, and critics argue the ban limits quick research and AI exploration, even as more than 30 states and D.C. pursue similar restrictions.