If you’ve got a kid heading back to school this fall, you’ve probably already heard the buzz: New York schools are going phone-free for the 2025-2026 school year. Governor Kathy Hochul rolled out a new statewide rule that bans smartphones from the first bell to the last in K-12 schools.

Why the change? Teachers, parents, and even students themselves spoke up about the distraction factor. The goal here is to cut down on classroom interruptions, boost focus, and make sure kids are actually learning instead of scrolling.

What the New Rule Means for Parents

The statewide rule sets the baseline: no more smartphones during the school day. But, each district has been tasked with creating its own plan for how to enforce it. That means the exact rules (and consequences) can look a little differe

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