On Friday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the state’s fiscal year 2026 budget into law, where she highlighted several initiatives including an upcoming ban on cellphones in schools. Hochul previously announced that New York would become the largest state in the country to ban cellphones in schools, with more than $13 million allocated in the upcoming budget to help districts enforce that ban. That ban will impact public schools, charter schools and tech-ed programs across the state, with districts being given funds to develop their own plans to get phones out of the classroom. Students with special needs will be exempt from the ban.The governor said the impending ban will be important for New Yorkers’ health and well-being, with Hochul saying students will have a “distraction free school experience” in September where they can “learn and study instead of looking at memes.” Earlier this week, Hochul penned an op-ed for Fox News Digital where she said New York is “Taking back our classrooms and giving kids their childhoods back.” She said the cellphone ban is the latest in her efforts to protect children from harmful social media algorithms and distractions to their education.This year’s budget was finalized more than a month past the April 1 deadline. In addition to the cellphone ban, the $254 billion budget includes investments in gun violence prevention, transportation, affordable housing and more. A record $37 billion will be spend on school aid for districts across the state. That includes $340 million for a universal meal program that will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of family income.Other states weigh cellphone bansThe Associated Press reports that several other states have or will have cellphone bans in place for all students. Currently, Minnesota, Louisiana, Indiana, Virginia and Florida ban all smartphones in schools.Several other states, including California, Ohio, and Arkansas have bans pending in their schools.Nearly all states, with the exception of Nevada and Wyoming have at the very least proposed or recommended a pilot program for smartphone bans in schools as of Jan. 2025.In February, dozens of students spoke at the Vermont State House in support of a cellphone ban in schools, as lawmakers contemplated the issue again.
On Friday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the state’s fiscal year 2026 budget into law, where she highlighted several initiatives including an upcoming ban on cellphones in schools.
Hochul previously announced that New York would become the largest state in the country to ban cellphones in schools, with more than $13 million allocated in the upcoming budget to help districts enforce that ban. That ban will impact public schools, charter schools and tech-ed programs across the state, with districts being given funds to develop their own plans to get phones out of the classroom.
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Students with special needs will be exempt from the ban.
The governor said the impending ban will be important for New Yorkers’ health and well-being, with Hochul saying students will have a “distraction free school experience” in September where they can “learn and study instead of looking at memes.”
Earlier this week, Hochul penned an op-ed for Fox News Digital where she said New York is “Taking back our classrooms and giving kids their childhoods back.” She said the cellphone ban is the latest in her efforts to protect children from harmful social media algorithms and distractions to their education.
This year’s budget was finalized more than a month past the April 1 deadline. In addition to the cellphone ban, the $254 billion budget includes investments in gun violence prevention, transportation, affordable housing and more. A record $37 billion will be spend on school aid for districts across the state. That includes $340 million for a universal meal program that will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of family income.
Other states weigh cellphone bans
The Associated Press reports that several other states have or will have cellphone bans in place for all students.
Currently, Minnesota, Louisiana, Indiana, Virginia and Florida ban all smartphones in schools.
Several other states, including California, Ohio, and Arkansas have bans pending in their schools.
Nearly all states, with the exception of Nevada and Wyoming have at the very least proposed or recommended a pilot program for smartphone bans in schools as of Jan. 2025.
In February, dozens of students spoke at the Vermont State House in support of a cellphone ban in schools, as lawmakers contemplated the issue again.
