ALBANY, NY (March 11, 2025) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul joined forces with Common Sense Media on Tuesday to unveil a bold push to ban smartphones in schools from bell to bell, backed by a letter from 80,000 parents, kids, and educators urging state lawmakers to adopt her distraction-free schools proposal.
The announcement came during a roundtable with moms and teens as part of Common Sense Media’s “Day of Action.” Hochul’s plan would prohibit unsanctioned smartphone use on school grounds throughout the entire day—including classrooms, lunch, and study halls—while offering schools $13.5 million to fund storage options like lockers or pouches.
“Our kids are drowning in digital distractions when they should be learning,” Hochul said. “This bell-to-bell approach is about protecting their mental health and focus.”
James P. Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, called smartphones a “disruption disaster” in classrooms and hailed the proposal as a game-changer for students’ well-being. “New Yorkers are demanding this,” he said, pointing to the group’s letter pressing lawmakers to keep the full-day ban intact.
Under the proposal, schools could tailor their own enforcement plans but must ensure parents have a way to contact students in emergencies. Basic cellphones without internet are permitted, as are school-provided devices like laptops for lessons. Exemptions would apply for medical needs or special education requirements. Set to begin in the 2025-26 school year, the rule would cover public districts, charters, and BOCES.
Massapequa High School junior Lilly Dooher, 16, told the roundtable a phone-free day would ease anxiety. “My friends and I would feel so much calmer,” she said. Child welfare attorney Muna Heaven, a mother and advocate, added, “It’s time to restore balance in our schools.”
Hochul also pitched broader tech reforms, including a ban on AI-generated child sexual abuse material and safety mandates for “AI companion” chatbots linked to teen self-harm. Common Sense reps lobbied Albany lawmakers Tuesday to support both, while the governor touted a new media literacy initiative to help kids navigate the online world.
Critics, including some parents worried about emergencies, call it heavy-handed. But with support from labor leaders, law enforcement, and school officials, Hochul remains defiant. “I’ll keep fighting for our kids,” she said.
Photo is AI generated.