Gov. Kathy Hochul on August 11 traveled to Middletown in Orange County to continue her series of meetings and discussions on restricting the use of cellphones by students in New York’s schools when school goes back into session in a few weeks.
The roundtable included representatives of Middletown’s public schools along with representatives of Orange-Ulster BOCES. It followed previous roundtables held by Hochul this summer in New York City, the Capital Region, Central New York and the Finger Lakes.
“Our kids succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and that’s why schools across New York state will be ready to implement bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions this fall,” Hochul said. “We’re continuing to provide the resources and support to ensure that every school finalizes and publishes their distraction-free policy in the coming days.”
As of August 11, nearly 1,000 public school districts, charter schools and BOCES in New York have submitted their distraction-free policy to state education officials. Hochul’s office said that represents about 90% of the 1,098 total districts and schools covered by the statewide requirement. The remaining districts and schools are expected to finalize their policy in the coming days at upcoming school board meetings.
Orange-Ulster BOCES COO Deborah Heppes said, “Reducing phone use during the day is a simple change that will have a big impact on student well-being. With support for implementation and a thoughtful approach, this transition will help students succeed socially, emotionally, and academically.”
Middletown’s Board of Education President Edwin Estrada said, “By working together with state leaders, educators, parents, and students, we’ve developed a policy that puts learning first. This is about creating environments where focus comes naturally, interactions are genuine, and every student has the best chance to excel.”
The law prohibits unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in kindergarten through high school for the entire school day (from “bell-to-bell”), including classroom time and during lunch and study hall periods. It leaves it up to schools to develop plans for storing students’ cellphones or other devices during the day. The state will offer $13.5 million in funding to help schools pay for storage cabinets for or other storage systems.
Access to cellphones and other electronic devices is allowed when they’re used for instructional purposes. There are exemptions to the prohibitions such as when a student must have access to the internet to manage a medical condition or when access is required for individual educational purposes or for language translation, family caregiving or emergencies.
