At the Ithaca City School District, we are committed to responding to the needs of our students and families. The use of cell phones at school has become a pressing issue that has garnered attention not only locally but also across New York State and the nation.

In May 2025, a state budget deal was announced that includes a bell-to-bell ban on cell phones and other internet-enabled devices for K-12 schools with the start of the 2025-26 school year. (Distraction-Free Schools: Governor Hochul Announces New York to Become Largest State in the Nation With Statewide, Bell-to-Bell Restrictions on Smartphones in Schools)

While the ICSD acknowledges that cell phones and other electronic devices have become essential communication tools, our priority remains ensuring students stay focused on learning during instructional time. Each building in the district has implemented guidelines to create a welcoming, safe, and distraction-free learning environment.

Some school guidelines may include, but are not limited to:

• Recommending students leave cell phones at home

• Requiring that cell phones and electronic devices remain out of sight during school hours

• Allowing schools to hold devices until the end of the day, with the possibility of involving caregivers if cell phone use becomes a repeated issue

As always, caregivers can reach their child during school hours by contacting the school’s main office directly.

The following resources are available to support and inform discussions with students about cell phones at school:

• Common Sense Media Study

• The Atlantic: End the Phone-Based Childhood Now

• Common Sense Education: Offline Digital Citizenship: Soft Skills to Support Strong Online Habits

• Parent Content App for Student Devices - Qustodio

We encourage continued community input to ensure any cell phone policy adopted by the district reflects the needs and perspectives of our school community.

Please share your thoughts with us through the Let’s Talk portal.