New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing for lawmakers to support her “bell-to-bell” proposal for distraction free schools.
The proposal includes no unauthorized use of personal devices on school grounds during the school day, including class, lunch and study hall.
It allows schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day, giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students.
The state would provide $13.5 million dollars in funding for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them be distraction free.
Maine-Endwell Central School District Superintendent Jason Van Fossen said, “At Maine-Endwell, we believe eliminating outside distractions is key in furthering our mission of delivering a premier educational experience to each student. In 2022, following the growing use of mobile devices within schools nationwide, our district took a proactive approach by amending our official Code of Conduct to restrict such devices (including Smartphones, Watches, etc) during all learning periods. We support the Governor in taking steps to ensure education and safety remains priority number one within our school buildings.”
Here’s the full proposal from Gov. Kathy Hochul:
- No unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day, including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods.
- Allows schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day — giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students.
- Proposes $13.5 million in funding to be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction-free.
- Requires schools to give parents a way to contact their kids during the day if needed.
- Allows students to have simple cell phones without internet capability, as well as internet-enabled devices officially provided by their school for classroom instruction, such as laptops or tablets used as part of lesson plans.
- Provides sensible exemptions to restrictions, including for a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), for students who need an internet-enabled device to manage a medical condition, or for other academic purposes such as translation.
- Requires schools to track and report on the enforcement of the ban and any disparities in enforcement.
This new requirement would be in place starting in the 2025-26 academic year, and would apply to all schools in public school districts, as well as charter schools and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).
