The ban would help students focus in class and improve their mental wellbeing, Hochul has said. Some schools in the area have already implemented partial restrictions in classrooms, cafeterias and hallways.
The goal is to create “distraction-free learning environments” in schools, Hochul said Tuesday in her presentation of this year’s executive budget.
Under the proposed bill, each school district would create its own policy prohibiting devices. If passed, the ban would take effect immediately and require schools to enforce it starting this fall.
Here’s everything we know about Hochul’s proposed ban:
What devices are included in the ban?
Smart phones would be prohibited along with tablets, smartwatches and any other devices that can connect to the Internet.
Devices that cannot connect to the Internet, including some cellphones, would still be allowed. The proposed policy does not ban any devices the school district provides for educational purposes.
Where will devices be prohibited?
Under the proposed policy, devices will be banned on school grounds during the school day.
Hochul lists both “instructional” and “non-instructional” time in the policy. This includes homeroom, lunch, recess, study hall and “passing time,” according to the proposed bill.
The bill defines “school grounds” as any property within a school’s boundary line. Among the areas where devices would be prohibited are school buildings, athletic fields and playgrounds.
It’s not clear from the bill whether students would be allowed to use a phone during after-school activities like soccer practice or marching band.
Each district must offer at least one way for students to store their devices during the day, including in lockers.
Charter schools are also included in the proposed policy.
Are there any exceptions?
Students can still use devices if they receive permission from a teacher or school administrator for educational purposes, the proposed policy says.
They also would be allowed to use them if it is necessary for their healthcare, in an emergency, for translation services, if it’s required by law or if the device is part of a students' individualized education program or other specialized educational support.
Under the legislation, schools would be required to provide parents at least two ways to contact their students during the school day.
How will schools enforce the ban?
Hochul’s policy leaves enforcing the ban mostly up to each individual district.
All school districts would need to publish their policies restricting cellphones and other devices on their websites by Aug. 1.
Starting next September, all districts in the state must publish an annual report outlining how they have enforced the policy and demographic information about students who have broken it, the policy says.
What’s the money for?
As part of this year’s executive budget proposal, Hochul allocated $13.5 million for schools to implement the policy.
It’s unclear how the state or school districts would spend that money.
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