Will This State Ban Phones In Schools?
Movieguide® Contributor
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing all of the state’s students keep their phones away during class.
The ban would start at the beginning of the next school year and mandate that “any internet devices” be locked away until the end of the school day.
“We are not developing the skills we need because kids are distracted by the cellphones,” Hochul said Tuesday. “I am announcing today a proposal that will transform our classrooms, return them to a place of learning.”
“We’re going to make sure there are no smart phones, no watches, no tablets, no beeps or dings in that sacred space between the bell in the morning and the bell in the afternoon,” Hochul said. “That’s how we start saving these kids.”
School districts would have until August to devise how they want to implement the policy.
Students who require devices for medical reasons, like translation services or insulin monitoring, will have exemptions. Special ed students can also be exempt. Teachers can also give exemptions if they deem a device is necessary for educational purposes.
READ MORE: WHAT EXPERTS THINK ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA’S SCHOOL PHONE BAN
“We don’t want there to be any reason any school cannot participate, and we welcome New York City’s participation in this as well,” Hochul said Wednesday.
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James openly supports the policy.
“The use of mobile phones by students during a quickly developing school emergency is a distraction that could compromise the safety of students and school staff,” he said. “State Police and local law enforcement will support school districts as they implement new cell phone policies as part of their school safety plans.”
Hochul wants to spend $13.5 million from the state budget to purchase locking pouches and other device storage, which is about $10 per student.
Schools will need to request reimbursements from the state. The policy will not be retroactive. Schools that have already enforced bans may not request funds.
The proposal doesn’t contain a clear enforcement plan, nor does it designate a specific agency to oversee enforcement.
READ MORE: WHAT YOUR TEEN’S DIGITAL MATURITY SAYS ABOUT THEIR SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
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