YONKERS, NY – Governor Kathy Hochul held a roundtable discussion with Hudson Valley educators and stakeholders on smartphone use in schools on August 5 as part of her statewide information tour.
It followed several recent meetings in the Capital Region, Long Island, the Southern Tier and Western New York State and will continue with additional discussions with key stakeholders in the coming months.
Stakeholder engagement will play a key role as she develops a national policy proposal on smartphones in schools, which is expected to be announced later this year, she said.
“Our young people can succeed in the classroom when they are learning and growing – not just clicking and scrolling,” Hochul said. “I’ve already learned a lot on this listening tour from educators and parents who want the best outcomes for our children. I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to develop effective solutions for managing smartphones and other devices in New York City’s schools.”
According to a Pew Research Institute survey released in June, 72 percent of high school teachers nationwide say student distraction from cell phones is a major problem in their classrooms. As part of her commitment to addressing this issue and creating more positive outcomes for students, families and teachers, Hochul said this spring that she plans to propose a nationwide policy to combat excessive smartphone use in schools.
Hochul also pointed out that many schools across the state currently have individual policies addressing cell phone use in their classrooms. The governor is focused on gathering perspectives on the successes and challenges that various schools and stakeholders across the state are experiencing due to the current patchwork of individual school policies.
Today’s roundtable discussion took place at the Yonkers Public Schools Board of Education and included Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, as well as administrators and teachers from several different area schools. Additional discussions will be held across the state in the coming months with a wide range of educators, parents, students and stakeholders.
“We are here today to discuss together the best way to create an educational environment that maximizes student learning and supports their mental well-being,” Stewart-Cousins said. “Our work requires us to address the challenges of modern life, including the new opportunities brought about by technological advances.”
Other participants in the discussion were:
- State Senator Shelley Mayer
- MP Chris Burdick
- MP Chris Eachus
- MP Nader Sayegh
- Representative Gary Pretlow
- Mayor of White Plains, Thomas Roach
- Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano
- White Plains Superintendent Joseph Ricca
- Yonkers Deputy Director Dr. Michelle Yazurlo
- President of the Yonkers Board of Education, Dr. Rosalba Corrado DelVecchio
- William Donohue, executive principal of Middletown High School
- Superintendent of the Newburgh Expanded School District, Dr. Jackielyn Manning Campbell
- NYSUT member Paulette Easterlin
- NYSUT member Matt Haynes
- NYSUT member MaryClaire Breslin
- President of the Yonkers Federation of Teachers and Board Member of NYSUT at Large, Samantha Rosado-Ciriello
- President of the Yonkers Council of PTAs, Dr. Robin Brumfield
The challenges posed by mobile phones in schools also underscore the ongoing problem of learning loss, especially in the post-pandemic era. Studies show that students are less likely to remember and retain learning material when their attention is split between two tasks, such as listening to the teacher and using internet-enabled devices.
In June, Hochul signed two important bills designed to help create a safer digital environment for New York’s youth.
The SAFE for Kids Act requires social media companies to restrict addictive feeds on their platforms for users under 18. Unless parental consent is provided, users under 18 will not receive addictive feeds. The SAFE for Kids Act was the first law of its kind signed into law in a state nationwide.
New York’s Child Data Protection Act prohibits online sites and connected devices from collecting, using, sharing, or selling personal information from anyone under 18 unless they obtain informed consent or it is strictly necessary for the purpose of the site.
This summer, Hochul launched the Get Offline, Get Outside campaign to promote physical and mental health. It’s designed to help children and families in New York put down their phones, take a break from social media, and enjoy outdoor recreation and socializing. Along with waiving pool fees at New York State Parks, expanding access to outdoor activities, and other announcements, this campaign has already helped drive significant increases in state park visitation this summer. State park visitation over the Fourth of July weekend reached 2.8 million – a 30 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
