Gov. Hochul weighs banning cellphones in classrooms across NY

NEW YORK (PIX11) – New York lawmakers are considering a statewide ban on cellphones in classrooms.

Gov. Kathy Hochul met with superintendents, teachers and union leaders from several school districts on Monday on the possible restrictions.

“The principals, the superintendents also told me about what happens when students are there, capturing everything that happens with their cellphone… it’s instigating more fights and they’re setting up activities that they want to capture so they can become a social media star themselves,” she said.

The superintendent of the Schoharie Central School District, which implemented a cellphone ban in 2022, told the governor that kids are more engaged and parents expressed their appreciation.

Hochul said she’s uncertain if a bill would be ready by the next legislative session.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018 . She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here .

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