Gov. Kathy Hochul reveals results to statewide school cellphone ban

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- New York Governor Kathy Hochul is celebrating the anniversary of the ban on cellphones in schools by calling it a 'win.'

The ban appears to be getting high marks from educators.

A new statewide survey tracking the policy found most teachers report fewer classroom distractions, stronger student engagement, and improved social connections since the phone-free policies took effect last fall.

Students in K-12th grades must lock up their phones during the school day.

Governor Kathy Hochul spoke with students and educators at Schuyler Middle School in Bushwick to reflect on the "bell-to-bell" cellphone ban that went into effect last September.

According to one survey, more than 600 teachers and administrators say it's working.

"80% reported that the students are behaving better in a more engaged way. They're collaborating more. They're talking to each other. And basically, I read all the comments. They're acting like kids again," Hochul said.

And perhaps being kinder to each other.

It has also been reported that bullying incidents are down.

"We are seeing kids talk to each other as they transition to the hallways. We're seeing them interact with each other in cafeterias in ways that we haven't seen in years," New York City Public Schools Chief of Safety Mark Rampersant said.

Even students see a behavior change.

"I notice a lot of kids talking with each other more or engaging in conversation. A lot of kids playing sports with each other. And doing productive activities," one student said.

New York is the largest state with a bell-to-bell cellphone ban.

In NYC, schools can administer that rule as they see fit.

At Schuyler, classrooms have lock boxes.

8th-grader Ryan Duong says the ban is a start, but believes more can be done.

"I told the governor that the lock boxes, they were a great temporary solution, maybe for the next couple of years. However, I said that that was a solution to a symptom of a root cause and underlying reason as to why students are taking out their phones constantly," Duong said.

Many blame the algorithms and the dopamine hit that social media provides.

While it's still too early to measure whether the state's cell phone ban is leading to academic improvements, the governor says they'll be tracking that and thinks the results will be promising.

"I feel very optimistic that we will see some improvement; the main focus has always been emotional development and combat the negativity they were enveloped in the school day," Hochul said.

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