NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — A big change is coming to New York City public schools beginning this September, aimed at eliminating distractions in the classroom.
Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, internet-enabled devices such as cellphones, tablets and smart watches will no longer be allowed to be used during the school day by students.
Mayor Eric Adams and Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos announced the updated cellphone and electronic device policy on Wednesday, which will become the standard for 1,600 public schools across the five boroughs.
The state has allocated $4.3 million to help with the implementation.
“Our kids are in school to learn, but, too often, cell phones are used in manners that are distracting, degrading, and dangerous to our young people,” Mayor Adams said. “The state cellphone ban was the first step in putting our kids back on track to learn and thrive in safe, nurturing environments, and this new cellphone policy is the next step in ensuring students are given the best shot to succeed in school.”
Under the policy, students can use their devices when traveling to and from school, but they must be turned off and put away during the school day.
Schools, however, will be required to provide at least one method for families to reach their children during the school day in case of an emergency, and provide a secure way to store devices.
There will also be specific exceptions to the policy for students who need devices for medical reasons.
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