NYC Schools to Implement Cellphone Ban in February, According to Principals

Several school leaders in the nation’s largest school system, New York City, are contemplating a plan to prohibit cellphones in their approximately 1,600 schools from February onwards, as per various principals briefed on the potential policy.

Principals conveyed to Chalkbeat that schools will need to devise their individual policies, whether by collecting devices at the beginning of the day or having students carry their phones in Yondr pouches, cloth cases secured with a magnet from morning till dismissal.

Despite the potential costliness of such systems, school administrators revealed that they do not anticipate additional funding in their budgets, according to the plans shared with them. The principals, who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media, expressed this concern.

When questioned to verify the preliminary plans, Department of Education spokesperson Nathaniel Styer responded, “No decisions have been made yet!”

In order to gather phones, schools may need to procure cubbies or other storage equipment along with staffing requirements. Yondr pouches are priced around $25 to $30 per student, with costs varying based on school size, as informed by a company spokesperson to Chalkbeat previously.

Schools Chancellor David Banks has engaged in discussions with administrators from the five boroughs about cellphone regulations, emphasizing that they broadly endorse a citywide policy. Governor Kathy Hochul is also poised to unveil a state-wide school cellphone policy within this year.

Since 2015, school leaders have had the autonomy to institute their own cellphone guidelines, after former Mayor Bill de Blasio eliminated the school cellphone ban primarily due to equity disparities, requiring students in metal detector-equipped schools, mainly serving low-income families, to pay local businesses to store their phones daily.

Almost a decade ago, cellphones were not as prevalent, especially among younger students, and teenagers were not as engrossed in social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. They did not possess easily concealable AirPods, and parental communication was less frequent.

The city’s schools operate under a patchwork of regulations that numerous educators find challenging to enforce. Teachers at schools where phones are presently aggregated or stored in pouches acknowledge that the existing systems are not flawless but appreciate the clear directives provided to students. Conversely, at schools with an on-paper cellphone prohibition, instructors report variations in enforcement from classroom to classroom, leading to student confusion.

More recently, an escalating number of educators, experts, and policymakers have raised apprehensions about the adverse effects of cellphones on youth mental health and their encroachment on instructional hours. Several school districts, including the nation’s second-largest district in Los Angeles, are moving towards cellphone bans, compelled to implement a new policy by January.

One principal expressed reservations about New York City’s prospective February timeline, voicing concerns that initiating a major policy midyear might pose implementation challenges. Nonetheless, the principal highlighted the impracticality of enforcing a ban by September within the given timeframe.

“The resources required to efficiently manage, secure, and distribute around 700 phones daily are substantial,” remarked a school administrator in response to a Chalkbeat survey on cellphones. Preceding phone collection at the school, the administrator observed that teachers were preoccupied with preventing phone disruptions during classes and administrators were dedicating excessive time to address cellphone-related issues.

However, the administrator cautioned that students’ strong attachment to their devices could precipitate conflicts when relinquishing or retrieving their phones each day. The system necessitates a coordinated strategy and a compassionate staff capable of defusing volatile emotions.

Deborah Alexander, a parent leader on the Citywide Council for High Schools, articulated her apprehensions against a cellphone ban after a recent meeting with Education Department officials. She comprehends the parental support for a ban in principle but anticipates practical obstacles. Alexander posed questions about staffing capabilities for phone custody and distribution, concerns about financial liability for lost or damaged phones, and potential discrepancies in schools with affluent PTAs offsetting costs incurred by cellphone policies.

She raised queries about exceptions for phones needed for health monitoring or as translation tools. She highlighted the unexpected delays students might face due to phone storage or pouches, potentially extending school hours.

“In accordance with a multitude of teens I’ve conversed with, the moment they exit school, kids will be even more engrossed in phones. Additionally, upon school entry, they’ll be reminded of their perceived lack of trust and presumed guilt even prior to any misstep, akin to the experience at metal detectors when entering schools,” remarked Alexander in an email.