New York: phone-free schools are coming statewide
New York will deploy bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions across K-12 starting in the 2025–26 school year, with districts preparing now. NYC has also updated its device policy to bar use of internet-enabled devices during the school day. Expect locked pouches, centralized storage, and parent-contact alternatives. Governor Kathy Hochul
Florida: phones, pronouns, and library materials
Phones: Florida became the first state to require no student phone use during instructional time in 2023 (HB 379). Lawmakers advanced proposals in 2025 to expand that to all-day restrictions in many districts. Districts must also teach about social media’s effects and block TikTok on district networks. The Florida Senate Education Commission of the States
Pronouns & instructional materials (HB 1069): Florida’s 2023 law codified definitions of sex in education code, set rules for pronouns and reproductive-health content, and expanded library-materials objection procedures—policies that continue to shape district practices this fall. The Florida Senate
