Cellphone ban unlikely by start of NYC school year: 'We're not there yet'

NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – As a statewide cellphone ban looms, Mayor Eric Adams said the city is not yet ready for an all-out ban.

Adams on Tuesday said his ultimate goal is getting distractions, namely cellphones, out of the classroom. But a sweeping ban is not likely for the upcoming school year. 

“The overwhelming number of people would like to get the distractions out of school. How to do it is another question,” Adams said. "We're not there yet."

Chancellor David Banks previously told reporters a ban at New York City Public Schools could have been announced in early summer. More recently, principals told Chalkbeat a ban could come as soon as February. Adams said there will be “some action” on cellphones this year, but it won’t soon be a complete ban. 

“During the school day, I see no good reason for kids to have access to phones,” Banks told Education Week in June. “I think we’re going to be ready to make an announcement soon enough. … We see nothing but an upside, the issue for us is around implementation.”

Considerations like how to lock phones up and enforcement need to be sorted out before making a universal decision, Adams said Tuesday. Despite some of the challenges, Adams and Banks have said many educators are already on board with removing cellphones from the classroom. 

“We are hooked on our phones,” Adams said. “We want to remove any distraction from our children.”

The city previously had a cellphone ban in schools that was later reversed, but some individual schools still have bans in place, according to Adams.