With just days to go before the Aug. 1 deadline, Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging school districts to finalize their bell-to-bell cellphone ban plans, according to Spectrum News 1. The policy, backed by the state teachers union, aims to reduce bullying and distractions in classrooms.
More than 150 districts have submitted early, but others face tight timelines after budget delays and late guidance from the state. Some parents have voiced safety concerns, prompting discussions about alternative communication methods like more landlines and text alert systems.
Hochul also blamed Republicans for the state’s $750 million budget gap, citing former President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” She dismissed calls for a special session, instead relying on an internal team to find budget solutions.
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