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New York Schools Wrap First Week Under Bell-to-Bell Phone Ban

Early reports cite improved focus alongside lingering questions about emergency communication.

Gov. Kathy Hochul highlights distraction-free schooling by showing students new Yondr cell phone pouches at M.S. 582, The Magnet School for Multimedia Technology and Urban Planning, on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Susan Watts / Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
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A photograph of a group of people on a red carpet.
A paraprofessional helps a student off the bus on his first day of school

Overview

  • Gov. Kathy Hochul’s statewide law took effect with limited exemptions, requiring students to be separated from internet‑enabled devices throughout the school day.
  • Implementation varies across New York City, with a DOE survey showing about 820 schools using lockable pouches, 600 relying on drop‑boxes or bins, and 550 collecting phones in classrooms.
  • Officials say schools have procedures for emergencies and added landlines, while parents, students and school‑safety leaders voice concerns, including a drop in safety agents from 5,300 to 3,300 since 2019–20.
  • Early outcomes include reports of more peer interaction and classroom focus, a small number of smuggling violations, and some workarounds such as using email or secondary devices.
  • Districts are investing in storage solutions like Yondr pouches—used by Yonkers for about 11,000 students—as New York earmarked $13.5 million for rollout support and the company reports 2.5 million student users nationwide.