Phone-Free Schools in New York City: NYC Public Schools Cell Phone Policy
New York City Public Schools serves about 915,000 students in New York City, New York. New York’s phone-free school law has been in effect since the 2025–26 school year.
- Location
- New York City, New York
- the five boroughs
- Enrollment
- About 915,000 students
- New York City area
New York City Public Schools, the largest school district in the United States, is a public school district headquartered in New York City, New York (the five boroughs), serving approximately 915,000 students across the New York City area. Like every district in New York, its cell phone rules are shaped by state law — and by how well the policy is actually enforced on each campus.
Does NYC Public Schools ban cell phones?
Yes. New York has a statewide phone-free school law (Education Law § 2803 (FY 2026 budget, S3006-C)) covering no student use of internet-enabled devices (smartphones, tablets, smartwatches) anywhere on school grounds for the whole school day, including lunch, recess, study halls and passing time; basic phones without internet access are not covered. The district's own rules may go further; check its student handbook.
For the full statute, scope, effective date, and primary sources, see our guide to New York's phone-free school law, part of our phone-free school laws by state directory.
Enforcing a phone-free day across New York City
New York's law sets the rule; how phones are stored and how violations are handled is largely left to each district.
Three enforcement models districts choose from
- Physical pouches (e.g., Yondr): a per-student cost that recurs as pouches are lost or damaged, plus daily hand-out and unlocking at every campus.
- District storage (lockers, caddies, classroom bins): low hardware cost, but it relies on staff to police compliance period after period.
- Device-level software (such as LockedIn): locks the phone students already carry during school hours, with no pouches to hand out.
LockedIn, which publishes this page, makes software that locks students' own phones during the school day, with an admin dashboard and no pouches or hardware. Where a state requires phones to be stored away from students, it works alongside that storage rather than replacing it. Compare the options in our phone-free school solutions comparison or the LockedIn vs. Yondr breakdown, and model the math with our pouch-vs-software cost calculator.
What NYC Public Schools schools can do next
Draft a policy with our free phone-free school policy generator, or contact our team for a quote. Title I schools in New York may also qualify for subsidized access.
Explore other New York school districts or browse phone-free school coverage by district.
Frequently asked questions
Does NYC Public Schools have a cell phone ban?
Yes. New York has a statewide phone-free school law (Education Law § 2803 (FY 2026 budget, S3006-C)) covering no student use of internet-enabled devices (smartphones, tablets, smartwatches) anywhere on school grounds for the whole school day, including lunch, recess, study halls and passing time; basic phones without internet access are not covered. The district's own rules may go further; check its student handbook.
What is New York's school cell phone law?
New York's Education Law § 2803 bans student use of smartphones, tablets and smartwatches anywhere on school grounds for the whole school day, including lunch. It took effect for 2025–26, and the first annual enforcement reports were due Sept. 1, 2026. See our full New York guide for the statute, scope, effective date, and exceptions.
How can New York City-area schools enforce a phone-free day?
Schools generally choose physical pouches (like Yondr), district-managed storage, or device-level software like LockedIn that locks the phone students already carry during school hours. Each district picks the method; check NYC Public Schools's student handbook for the one it uses.
How much does LockedIn cost for a district like NYC Public Schools?
LockedIn is priced per student, per year, and quoted per school or district based on enrollment and rollout — there are no pouches or hardware to buy and no per-unit replacement costs. Contact us for a written quote and a side-by-side comparison against a pouch program. Qualifying Title I schools may receive subsidized or fully covered access.