NEW YORK STATE — Gov. Kathy Hochul on August 14 launched a new website—ny.gov/phonefree—that enables New York parents and students to look up their school’s plan for implementing bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions this fall. 

The website allows New Yorkers to search by district or school name among more than 1,050 public school districts, charter schools and BOCES that have already published their policy for the coming school year – representing around 96 percent of the approximately 1,090 total districts and schools covered by the statewide requirement. School administrators across the state are implementing these plans as part of Governor Hochul’s new law to require bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions in K-12 schools statewide.

“Our kids succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and that’s why schools across New York will be ready to implement bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions this fall,” Governor Hochul said. “As we look ahead to the start of the school year, communication is key – and our new online resource is making it easier for parents and students to review their school’s plan.”