Message Regarding New York State’s 2025-26 Cell Phone Ban

Dear Rockland BOCES Parents and Caregivers,

As part of the New York State Budget, Governor Kathy Hochul announced statewide, "bell-to-bell" restrictions on smartphones in all K-12 schools. New York’s distraction-free schools mandate applies to all personal electronic devices and will take effect for the 2025-26 academic year.

All school districts and BOCES across New York are required to adopt a cell phone policy that prohibits the use of personal electronic devices for the entire school day (from “bell to bell”), including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods. Click here to view the Student Cell Phone Policy approved by the Rockland BOCES Board of Education on Wednesday, August 6.

At the elementary school level, student personal electronic devices may not be brought to school under any circumstances.

At the middle and high school levels, personal electronic devices that are brought onto school grounds must be turned off or silenced (without vibration) and stored in designated locations, as determined by the Rockland BOCES program administrator, from the time students arrive until the end of the school day.

“Personal electronic devices” are defined to include cell phones, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, earbuds or any digital device capable of accessing Internet content (including social media). The definition excludes school-issued devices (i.e., Chromebooks) used for educational purposes.

Exceptions to the “bell-to-bell” ban policy may exist for certain Rockland BOCES students, including when indicated in a student's IEP or 504 plan, for translation services or when necessary for healthcare management, as authorized by the school nurse.

Parents and caregivers who must reach their child during the school day should call the main office of the school, so that a message can be delivered to the student. In the case of an emergency, students can access a school phone in the main office at any time.

We greatly appreciate your partnership as we work together to create an engaging, safe and successful learning environment for every student. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your child's school or program administrator.

Chris D’Ambrese
District Superintendent