With the upcoming start of the new school year on September 4th, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul reminds parents to go online and check the “distraction-free learning policies” published by schools to ensure that their children are well-prepared for the new regulations. According to the new state law, starting from the 2025-26 school year, all public schools, charter schools, and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in the state will comprehensively restrict students from using smartphones and other internet devices during class.
This new regulation marks New York State as a pioneer in promoting “distraction-free learning campuses” in the field of education nationwide, and the actual impact on student learning outcomes and campus atmosphere will be observed in the future.
Governor Hochul signed the “Distraction-Free Campus Act” to establish uniform standards statewide. The main contents include: (1) Prohibition of unauthorized use of smartphones and internet devices: covering the entire school day, including classes, lunch, and study periods; (2) Schools are allowed to plan their own methods of storing phones to provide flexible management; (3) Allocation of 13.5 million dollars to assist schools in need of storage equipment; (4) Ensuring that parents can contact their students when necessary; (5) Policy formulation requires consultation with teachers, parents, and students to avoid unfair punishment; (6) Allowing exceptions for situations such as medical needs, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), academic purposes, translation, or family emergencies.
Furthermore, students can still use simple phones without internet capabilities and laptops or tablets provided by schools for educational purposes.
Governor Hochul stated that a phone-free environment can promote focused learning and psychological well-being. She emphasized, “Children should focus on learning, not on scrolling through their phones.”
Parents can visit the state government’s official website to check the specific regulations published by approximately 1,080 schools. Link: ny.gov/phonefree ◇