ALBANY, N.Y. — There’s money in Governor Kathy Hochul’s budget to potentially ban smartphone usage in schools.
In her Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget, Governor Hochul proposed putting aside $13.5 million to support a transition to “distraction-free classrooms.” The money would be used to purchase pouches, cubbies or “other infrastructure” that would keep phones out of students’ hands.
In her proposal, Hochul cited a Pew Research Poll that reported 72% of high school teachers in the nation said phones in class are a distraction to their students and that 95% of high school students have access to their smartphones and have 250 notifications per day.
If the proposal becomes a reality, in 2026 every student in New York State will be forced to “disconnect” from their devices during school hours. Hochul said that this would include lunchtime and in the hallways.
“Our kids will finally be free from the endless interruptions of social media and all the mental health pressures that come along with it,” she said.
Schools will have authority on how the ban is implemented. Hochul also said there will be exceptions for students who need their devices for medical reasons, assist non-English speakers and for students with learning disabilities.
