Overview

• The ban covers smartphones, tablets, smartwatches across all 1,600 public schools from bell to bell beginning in September 2025.
• Exceptions apply for students with medical needs, caregiving responsibilities, language translation or special education accommodations.
• Schools must install secure storage for devices plus maintain at least one emergency family contact method during the school day.
• The city has set aside $25 million for rollout; New York State has added $4.3 million for implementation support.
• The policy, driven by a new statewide bell-to-bell law from Gov. Kathy Hochul, builds on a national move toward full-day student device restrictions.