by Natalie Kucko

March 19, 2025

As the state budget deadline nears in New York, Governor Hochul’s $13.5 million proposal to ban cell phones in public schools, K-12, remains a key talking point.

The State Senate is pushing back with the suggestion to allow for limited phone use in between classes.

As previously reported, the state’s teachers union (NYSUT) supports the governor’s proposal, which is a bell-to-bell policy with the goal of improving students’ mental health and performance in and out of the classroom.

“As a father of six-year-old twins in school, I understand that if something happens, you want to be able to reach your student and reach your child. I think it’s important that parental concerns are taken into account. But, I think that’s why we have to have every stakeholder embrace the policy,” said Republican Assemblymember Josh Jensen, who represents the state’s 134th Assembly District.

The proposals would require schools to give parents a way to contact their children during the day if needed.

The Senate is calling for changes to allow the use of phones when classes aren’t in session.

The Children’s Agenda, a Rochester-based child advocacy group, supports the Senate’s proposals.

“We’ve done a lot of work over the years on limiting the use of suspension and exclusionary discipline, and any new policy like this that can lead to discipline of students can lead to more pushout of students. So, that’s our number one concern over the last few years. Cell phone bans are very new, and so, it is good to have flexibility for districts surrounding implementation so we can continue to learn from and update policies because it probably won’t be a one size fits all that has the best impact,” said Eamonn Scanlon, director of community impact with The Children’s Agenda.

Already, some school districts in the Finger Lakes Region have put phone restrictions in place. While the legislation hasn’t passed yet, the next few weeks will bring negotiations in Albany.

“I think a way that provides more flexibility, while eliminating distractions during the school day, is the best way moving forward,” said Assemblymember Jensen.

If passed as part of the upcoming budget, the policy would take effect in the 2025-2026 school year and would be up to individual districts to implement independently.

NYS (56th District) Senator Jeremy Cooney, a Democrat, issued the following statement to News 8:

“I fully support Governor Hochul’s ‘bell-to-bell’ distraction-free school proposal. While some of my colleagues have preferred to allow limited use of phones in school during lunch, we’ve heard from our teachers that the best way to keep our students engaged, focused and safe from online threats and bullying is to keep their minds on books, not screens.”

The budget is due April 1.

Original article here: https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/debate-on-phone-policy-in-nys-schools-continues-as-budget-deadline-nears/