The 2025-2026 New York state budget included a ban on students using internet-enabled devices on instructional days. This fact sheet provides a summary of this law which went into effect on May 10, 2025, although the ban itself begins on August 1, 2025. This statute also establishes restrictions and exceptions regarding the use of internet-enabled devices during the school day, sets requirements for local education agency (LEA) policies, and mandates annual reporting on enforcement. The law applies to all school districts, charter schools, and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) in New York State.
Restrictions
The use of non-school issued internet-enabled device on school grounds is prohibited for the entirety of the instructional day. This restriction includes non-instructional periods such as homeroom, lunch, recess, study hall, and passing time. For the purposes of this law, “school grounds” include any building, athletic field, playground, or land located within the boundaries of the school. It does not cover school buses while they are on their route and not located on school grounds.
Devices Defined
Internet-enabled devices covered under this restriction include smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, or any other device capable of connecting to the internet. The law does not prohibit the use of school-issued internet-enabled devices when used for educational purposes, nor does it restrict the use of devices that are not capable of connecting to the internet.
District Policy
No later than August 1, 2025, each LEA must adopt a written policy prohibiting the use of internet-enabled devices by students during the school day on school grounds. In developing this policy, the LEA must consult with local stakeholders, including employee organizations representing each bargaining unit, parents, and students.
The finalized policy must be posted in a clearly visible and accessible location on the LEA’s website and must be made available, upon request, in the twelve most commonly spoken non-English languages. The policy must include:
- One or more methods for guardians to contact students during the school day
- Provision of written notification to guardians about these contact methods at the beginning of each school year and upon student enrollment
- One or more methods for on-site storage of student devices
Exceptions from Ban
While the general use of internet-enabled devices is restricted, the written policy may authorize student use of such a device on an instructional day under specific circumstances, including:
- If authorized by a teacher, principal, or LEA for a specific educational purpose
- When necessary for the management of a student’s healthcare
- In the event of an emergency
- For translation services
- For a student who is routinely responsible for the care and well-being of a family member
- When included in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP)
- When included in a student’s Section 504 Plan
Violations and Reporting
Beginning September 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, each local education agency (LEA) must publish a report on its website summarizing enforcement of the policy during the previous school year. This report must include non-identifiable demographic data of students who were subject to disciplinary action for policy violations and must provide an analysis of any demographic disparities in enforcement. If the analysis identifies a statistically significant disparate impact, the report must also include a mitigation action plan to address the disparity.
Notably, students may not be suspended solely for violating the internet-enabled device policy.
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