New changes are on the way for New York City students and their families, including a ban on smartphones during school hours, a plan to offer free universal after-school programming for K-8 students, Mayor Eric Adams’s commitment to increase and extend funding for 3K and UPK, more education investments in the executive budget, and the closure of a Crown Heights school, which will be replaced by a new school for struggling readers in 2028.
New York State bans smartphones during school hours
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a new statewide “bell to bell” ban on smartphones during school hours—from the opening bell to the closing bell—set to take effect in September. The ban will apply to all public and charter schools in New York and will require schools to store K-12 students’ devices during class, lunch, and other parts of the day. It will also apply to smartwatches and other internet-connected devices, though basic cellphones without internet access are allowed. Exceptions will be made for students who need devices for medical reasons, language translation, or learning disabilities. The policy is part of a $254 billion state budget deal, which includes funding to help schools buy storage equipment. Hochul said of the decision, “We protected our kids before from cigarettes, alcohol and drunk driving, and now we’re protecting them from addictive technology designed to hijack their attention.” Read more here.
NYC launches universal after-school program
Mayor Adams has unveiled his new “After-School for All” program, major initiative to expand free after-school programs and eventually make these programs universal for all New York City students. The ambitious plan will invest $331 million to add 20,000 new seats by fall 2027, eventually reaching 184,000 K-8 public school students. These programs will offer activities like sports, art, robotics, field trips, and more, giving kids a safe and enriching place to stay after school. As part of the city’s new budget deal, the total investment in after-school programming will reach $755 million per year. Read more here.
Mayor Adams pledges continued funding for 3K and UPK
After some uncertainty about the future of free 3K and UPK programs in New York City, Mayor Adams has announced a long-term funding commitment to these early childhood programs, with added support for students with disabilities. The city will invest $167 million, which includes $112 million to ensure free preschool for 3-year-olds and $55 million for preschool special education seats. Adams also pledged to protect federally funded Head Start seats that are at risk under the Trump administration. Adams promised that the investment in 3K and UPK would become a permanent part of the NYC budget. Read more here.
More education investments in Mayor Adams’s budget
The rollout of Mayor Adams’s executive budget has promised more major investments on childcare and early education. His $115.1 budget includes around $18.3 billion for the Education Department, which is $670 million more than this year. In addition to investments in 3K & UPK and universal after-school programs, the budget will also shore up some programs that were set to expire next year, including Project Pivot, an violence prevention initiative in schools. Long-term funding will also be directed towards programs in arts education, computer science, and tutoring. The Mental Health Continuum, which place mental health clinics in NYC schools, will also get $5 million next year. Finally, the budget will provide for extra teacher hiring this year—$150 million’s worht—and $200 million annually in the future.
City to close Crown Heights school and open new “literacy academy” in its place
The city has voted to close M.S. 394, a Pre-K–8 school in Crown Heights with low enrollment and low tests scores, and open a new public school in its place that will serve students with dyslexia and other reading struggles. M.S. 394 will be phased out over the next three years with 2027-2028 as its final school year. The Central Brooklyn Literacy Academy will open in the same building in 2028-2029, initially serve grades 2-3, and eventually up to grade 8. The proposal to close the school has been met with strong community dissent, with parents and even the principal publicly denouncing the city’s closure process. City officials say M.S. 394 is too small, with 41% less students than 5 years ago, and low test scores (23% passing rate for ELA and 27% for Math). Officials also pledged that M.S. 294 students will receive admissions priority, along with students in Districts 13, 16, 23, and 32. Read more here.
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Updated: May 2, 2025.
