Distraction-free learning at Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES

As you may know, New York State recently passed bell-to-bell device restrictions for schools. This new law means that students will not have access to personal internet-enabled devices during the school day. While we are still waiting for full guidance from the state on how to implement this policy, Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES is taking a proactive approach to prepare for these changes. 

The law, part of the state’s recently passed 2026 fiscal year budget, aims to reduce distractions, promote learning and support student well-being in the school environment.  This new law requires all schools in NYS to be in full compliance by the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

We are in the process of exploring policies and practices specific to W-FL BOCES, that will best support our students and schools. As part of this effort, we will pilot device-free days during our summer programming in July. To support families during this transition, we have linked resources below that explain the policy and the impact of device use in schools.

We are committed to keeping our Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES community informed as we move forward and will share updates as more details become available. Thank you for your partnership and cooperation as we work together to continue providing a positive, focused learning environment for all students.

• Device Ban Policy Information Sheet
• Device Ban Policy Infographic
• "More Learning, Less Scrolling - Creating Distraction-Free Schools" (NYS Governor)
• Fact Sheet 25-11 Internet-Enabled Device Restrictions in NYS Schools (NYSUT)