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

Thirteen candidates from across Chicago joined a virtual forum hosted by the group CPS Parents for Buses, which organized earlier this year after the district canceled transportation for students at magnet and selective schools.

“We want to be a place that has a lab site that’s like, ‘We’ve figured this out. We have a cadre of schools that, in my most aspirational dream, have eliminated the achievement gap,’” one principal said.

East Kentwood High School students taking AP African American Studies are finding a greater purpose in taking the pilot course: showcasing its meaning through their own experiences.

“It's a fundamentally wrong and unfair practice,” one student said, calling it “affirmative action for the wealthy.”

‘This was a session of good, bad, and ugly,’ said one Democratic lawmaker.

The rollout of California's teletherapy apps has been slow and social workers worry some youths who need clinical care won’t get referrals.