NYC families and teachers: How are your schools handling student cell phones?

A bird's eye view of a student working at a desk with a green apple and a cellphone.
Chalkbeat New York wants to hear about how your school is handling student cell phones, and the benefits and drawbacks of that approach. (Karen Pulfer Focht / Chalkbeat)

School cell phone policies are under the microscope nationwide. We want to hear what’s happening at your New York City school.

When students returned to in-person classes after learning remotely during the pandemic, some educators noticed that kids were increasingly attached to their phones. Now, more schools are experimenting with systems to keep phones out of students’ hands during the school day.

And in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has railed against the dangers of social media for children’s mental health, declaring it a public health risk and filing a lawsuit against five leading social media companies.

But efforts to ban or curb cell phone use in schools have also generated significant pushback. Some parents worry they won’t be able to reach their kids in emergencies, while some students and educators say restrictive rules rob them of a critical tool and opportunities to use technology responsibly.

At Chalkbeat New York, we’re hoping to dive deeper into how schools are handling cell phones. We want to learn more about the policies schools are adopting – or avoiding – and the benefits and drawbacks of those approaches. Please fill out the short survey below to help direct our reporting.


The Latest

Five state lawmakers joined Chalkbeat Colorado for our 2026 Legislative Preview to discuss education topics likely to surface during the session. Here’s what they said.

Pershing High School was Sheffield’s first stop after her public swearing-in ceremony on Friday.

Indiana legislators’ newest bills focus on education deregulation, processed food, teacher licensing, and creating a new board to oversee Indianapolis schools.

Most New York City schools don’t have a librarian. Find out if yours does and why advocates say more schools need librarians.

Schools in Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Colorado are teeing up new test cases after the Supreme Court deadlocked last year on whether charter schools can be religious.

Innovation zones were established during Denver’s school reform era. But they lost ground in recent years amid changes on the school board.