📚 Back to School in the Town of Babylon NY: One BIG Change That’s Ringing Through the Halls

Across the villages and hamlets of the Town of Babylon — from Babylon Village to Deer Park, Amityville to Wyandanch — students are heading back to school this fall with sharpened pencils, fresh sneakers, and one less thing in hand: their phones.

While kids returning to school may be a cause for celebration around many homes here in the Town of Babylon — complete with coffee mugs, mimosas, and high-fives at the bus stop — there’s one BIG change that may take some getting used to: smartphones are officially on pause during the school day. Students will now have to power down and pack away their devices, fostering fewer distractions and more face-to-face interaction throughout the academic day.

That’s because a sweeping new New York State law known as the “Distraction-Free Schools” Act has gone into effect for the 2025–2026 academic year, mandating a “bell-to-bell” ban on personal internet-enabled devices during the school day for all public and charter K–12 schools across the state.

📵 What is the Bell-to-Bell Ban?

This new policy requires students to power down and store away smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, earbuds, and similar devices from the moment the school bell rings in the morning until dismissal — including during lunch, study halls, passing periods, and even recess. Students may only access their devices during the day if approved for:

• ⚕️ Medical needs
• 🧩 IEPs or 504 plans (individualized education supports)
• 🌐 Translation or learning support
• 📞 Emergency contact via the main office

This isn’t just a trend — it’s a law. And every district in the Town of Babylon is required to comply.

🏫 How Local Districts Are Rolling It Out

Each school district is implementing its own version of the mandate. Here’s how it’s shaping up across Babylon:

• 📍 Amityville UFSD — Students must store phones in assigned pouches all day. The policy was developed in collaboration with parents, teachers, and students. Emergencies go through the office. Recording fights or viral content is specifically discouraged as a harmful behavior the policy aims to stop.
• 📍 Babylon Village Schools — Enforcement will include potential detention or suspension for repeated violations. Districts are communicating clearly with families, and exceptions are tightly defined in district documents.
• 📍 Copiague Public Schools — Devices must be off and stored from arrival to dismissal. Each school will determine storage methods (pouches, lockers, bins). Disciplinary action escalates only after multiple violations.
• 📍 Lindenhurst UFSD — The district policy emphasizes social engagement and mental health. Storage varies, and students can use school phones to contact family if needed.
• 📍 Deer Park UFSD — Final storage solutions are in the works. Parents are encouraged to begin conversations at home now. School phones are the official contact method during school hours.
• 📍 North Babylon Schools — The Board adopted Policy 5695. Each school has flexibility in choosing its storage system. Students will face escalating consequences such as detention or extracurricular exclusion for non-compliance.
• 📍 Wyandanch UFSD — Devices must be stored in lockers or backpacks. Elementary through high school students follow level-specific storage guidelines. The district has made clear that it is not responsible for lost or damaged devices.

📈 Why the Change?

Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers championed this law to curb distractions and improve mental health in New York schools. Here’s what the state hopes to accomplish:

• 🎯 Increased student focus and academic performance
• 🧠 Better mental health by reducing screen time and social media exposure
• 🤝 Stronger peer connections with more face-to-face interaction
• 👮‍♂️ Safer environments by reducing student filming of altercations and disruptions

📣 What Parents Should Know

• ☑️ Talk to your child about the new policy and what’s expected.
• 📞 Save your school’s main office number as the official way to contact your child during the day.
• 📋 Review your district’s Code of Conduct and look for updated device policies.
• 📱 Remember: phones can still come to school, but they must be powered off and stored.

🔗 Where to Learn More

• New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) — Full context on the Distraction-Free Schools Law
• Amityville School District Website
• Deer Park Union Free School District
• North Babylon School District
• Wyandanch UFSD Cell Phone Policy
• Babylon Beacon: Phones Out, Focus In

💬 Final Bell: A Cultural Shift in the Classroom

This back-to-school season marks more than the start of a new grade — it marks a major shift in school culture. In the halls of every village and hamlet in the Town of Babylon, students will be learning the value of presence, attention, and human connection — one bell at a time.

Will it be hard for students to adjust? Absolutely. But educators, families, and administrators hope that this effort will pay off in stronger academics, better social development, and less anxiety in the classroom.

Welcome back, Babylon. This year, we’re logging out — and tuning in.

Have thoughts on the new policy? Share them with your district or comment below.