No phone zone: Bell-to-bell ban on personal devices in schools begins in September

A shift in the relationship between students and their cellphones – at least while in school – is in store as a statewide bell-to-bell ban will take effect starting this academic year. It applies across all public school districts, charter schools, and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in New York. 

The policy was enacted as part of the 2026 New York State budget, which was agreed upon and passed in April 2025. Governor Kathy Hochul officially signed the measure into law on May 9, 2025, amending New York’s Education Law to include the cellphone restriction.

Emails from every Northport-East Northport school principal were sent out to district parents last week, informing them of the change. 

“As part of a new state law, students are no longer permitted to use personal electronic devices – including cell phones and smartwatches – during the school day. In response, our board of education has adopted a policy that aligns with this law,” began the email to elementary school parents. 

That policy was officially adopted at the July 10 Northport-East Northport board of education meeting and can be viewed here. Exemptions to the restriction, including for students with an Individualized Educational Plan or 504 Plan, can also be found in the board’s policy. 

School officials expect adjusting to the ban will include a learning curve.

“The cell phone policy is a New York State mandate,” Superintendent of Schools Dave Moyer told the Journal. “Each grade level has developed a process to support consistency and clarity in managing expectations. We are asking for the cooperation of our students and families so that our staff can remain focused on what matters most, learning and teaching, rather than addressing phone use throughout the day.”

Elementary school principals are recommending that students’ personal electronic devices, including cell phones and smartwatches, be left at home. “If your child must bring a device – for example, due to after-school activities – it must remain turned off and stored in their backpack throughout the day,” their email reads. 

Middle school students will be required to turn off or silence their personal electronic devices and store them for the entirety of the school day in cubbies (for fifth graders at Northport Middle School) or their lockers. High school students will also be required to power down or silence their devices and store them in their lockers from the morning bell until dismissal. 

“I encourage you to discuss this expectation with your child – even begin to challenge them to put their phones away at home for longer periods of time as we approach September,” Northport High School Principal Robert Dennis, like other school principals, stated in his email. “We can all agree that the focus of our students must be on their learning during the instructional day.”

Consequences for those who break the rule will increase with repeated offenses, beginning with a reminder to power down and store the phone in a backpack or locker. In the case of repeated offenses, the device may be held in the main office pending pickup by a parent (elementary school). In the middle schools, following repeated offenses, a student’s device may be brought to the office for the day or, in extreme situations, a student may be required to bring their device to the main office every day, where it will be stored for the duration of the school day, for a two-week period. In the high school, detention, in-school-suspension, suspension of lunch leave and suspension of after-school activities are also mentioned as consequences for repeated insubordination. 

When it’s necessary for a parent to communicate with their child during the school day, it is recommended to contact the school’s main office, counseling center or the student’s assistant principal.