Friday, July 18, 2025
Solidifying plans to implement the state’s from-arrival-to-dismissal school cell phone ban, Gov. Kathy Hochul met with school leaders from Nassau and Rockland counties and New York City on Long Island last week.
The new distraction-free policy that was part of the latest state budget goes into effect on Aug. 1. The law restricts cell phones in K–12 schools across New York.
Hochul said she is a firm believer that the policy will help children become more engaged and, ultimately, high-functioning adults.
“I believe that as a result of this cellphone ban, we will have young people who are finally liberated from the addictive qualities of social media and the cellphone they never seem able to put down,” Hochul said at the office of the Hicksville school district on June 24. “Across the country, 74 percent of teachers have said it is impossible to teach and connect with our young people anymore because they’re competing with TikTok dance videos, and that kids aren’t learning the way they used to.”
In Valley Stream, Central High School District Deputy Superintendent Jennifer DiMaio confirmed that similar preparation is underway. The district is currently in the process of writing a board policy for the 2025–26 school year and has been collecting input from students, parents, teachers and administrators.
Like many districts across the state, Valley Stream is aiming to implement the law with minimal disruption. With schools ranging from 1,050 to 1,350 students, DiMaio noted that managing a cellphone ban is a significant undertaking.
Valley Stream schools are likely to adopt a model that requires students to either leave their phones at home or store them in lockers for the entire school day. The district is not currently planning to purchase pouches or phone storage devices, citing concerns that such methods could delay the start of the school day and reduce instructional time.
The policy will include clear communication with families about how to reach students during emergencies or regular school hours. Students will continue to have access to classroom and main office phones, and district-issued devices still provide email as a potential contact method, though it is not being encouraged.
District leadership also emphasized the importance of following established emergency protocols. In the event of a crisis, the district wants students to focus on instructions from teachers and law enforcement, not on using their phones.
Disciplinary consequences will be in place for students who do not adhere to the rules, but the district aims to avoid adversarial enforcement. Staff will not be tasked with searching for phones, and the approach will prioritize student safety and support over punitive measures.
“If they can’t adhere to the rules, then there are going to be consequences for those rules,” DiMaio said. “But, we don’t want our adults in the building who are there to create supportive environments for kids to be looking for problems with children related to cellphones. So, the approach is going to be stern in that they’re not permitted, but we’re not going in there looking to create issues between adults and children in our buildings.”
DiMaio noted that most Nassau County high schools are pursuing a similar strategy. While the law is a state mandate, districts are still awaiting details on how related funding will be distributed. In the meantime, Valley Stream is working to ensure a smooth rollout, with clear expectations set by the start of the school year.
