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As president of the Edgemont Teachers Association, Jonathan Hansonbrook has been working on implementing a faculty-driven cellphone restriction policy at the secondary school since the fall, but without some higher authority, he said, it’s been hard to consistently enforce.

Albany, NY – With technology continually changing the landscape of education and presenting unprecedented challenges, New York State United Teachers is calling on the governor and Legislature to provide consistent, statewide restrictions on cellphone use during the school day.

NYSUT President Melinda Person released the following statement in response to the historic passage in the state Legislature of the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act and The New York Child Data Protection Act.

NYSUT Executive Vice President Jaime Ciffone joined Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James and state lawmakers as they announced new legislation aimed at online safety for children.

Maria Gonzalez has been a school psychologist for Rochester City Schools for more than two decades. She’s seen first-hand the damaging impact of cellphones. “I was there way before the pandemic, and I saw the incredible shift in the social skills of students,” said Gonzalez, Rochester Teachers Association.

Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul called for statewide standards to ensure distraction-free schools and New York educators are abuzz.

In school hallways, cellphones are almost as ubiquitous as backpacks; and educators say that is a big problem.

“The day that Riley died, we did not go to school because he was getting braces on his teeth,” said Mary Rodee, a member of the Canton Central Teachers Association. After the orthodontist appointment, Rodee dropped her 15-year-old son at his dad’s house with a milkshake and ibuprofen, took a quick photo of his new silver smile, and headed to work.

High school social worker Trish Hoyer says social media is a dominating force in her students’ lives, and she’s afraid kids are more disconnected than ever.