New Regulations: NYC Students Face Mobile Phone Ban as School Year Begins
Almost one million students in New York City are returning to school on Thursday, greeted by a new rule prohibiting cellphone use throughout the school day.
The recent cellphone ban, enacted by Governor Kathy Hochul and endorsed by the city’s Panel for Education Policy during the summer, signifies a significant shift for classrooms in the city. Officials aim to enhance academic performance that has stagnated in recent years.
Each of the city’s approximately 1,600 public schools is responsible for developing its own plan to implement the policy, which Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, noted may require several months for proper execution.
“What was intended over the last few days was for schools to revise their rollout plans and ensure everything was ready to go,” Mulgrew stated. He further mentioned, "It’s likely going to take until around Thanksgiving for everything to settle down."
Earlier this year, Governor Hochul signed the Distraction-Free Schools bill, mandating smartphone restrictions for K-12 institutions statewide, starting in the 2025-2026 academic year.
The teachers’ union endorsed the measure, which the city’s Panel for Education Policy approved with a 14-1 vote in July.
Under the new guidelines, students may continue using their phones during commutes but must surrender them upon entering school. Exceptions will be made for those who require their phones for medical reasons, such as monitoring insulin, or who provide medical care for family members.
Additionally, phones may be utilized for educational purposes directed by teachers, according to Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, emphasizing the policy’s dynamic nature.
To facilitate the transition, the city allocated $25 million to address necessary measures for the cellphone ban, including device storage and ensuring a means for parents to reach their children in emergencies.
Moreover, some students may experience smaller class sizes this year as schools align with a state law that caps class sizes at 20 students for early grades, 23 for grades 4-8, and 25 for high school by 2028.
Mulgrew indicated that 60% of classes would meet the state guidelines this year, as the city plans to hire thousands of new teachers.
The Department of Education intends to spend $42,168 per student for the current school year. This figure represents an increase of nearly $2,000 per student from last year, encompassing costs related to food, transport, support services, administration, pensions, benefits, and debt service, according to the Citizens Budget Commission.
The Department of Education’s budget, amounting to $41.2 billion, accounts for one-third of the city’s overall financial plan.
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