NYC Mayor Announces Student Cellphone Ban in Public Schools

New Policy on Student Cellphones

• 📱 Starting in September 2025, NYC public school students will be prohibited from using personal internet-enabled devices like smartphones and smartwatches during the school day.
• 📚 This updated policy, announced by Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Chancellor Melissa Ailis Ramos, aims to reduce classroom distractions and improve student concentration.

Device Usage and Storage

• 🚶 Students may use devices when traveling to and from school, but they must be turned off and stored away during learning hours.
• 🏥 Exceptions will be made for students requiring devices for medical reasons.
• 🏫 Schools are mandated to provide a secure storage solution for student phones and ensure at least one method for families to contact their children in emergencies.

Rationale and Funding

• 🧠 Mayor Adams stated that excessive cell phone use is detrimental to children's concentration and mental health, and the ban is intended to help students reach their full potential.
• 💰 A budget of $25 million has been allocated to support the implementation of this new policy across the city's 1,600 public schools.