For the upcoming school year, Governer Hochul of the state of New York is instituting a ban for cell phones in schools which is a part of her 2026 budget plans. This ban would be harmful to everyone. Including the lawmakers. The other day I wrote to the Governers office. Heres an excerpt of what I wrote.     "Which included, that you hailed as “Distraction Free Schools”. In this part of the initiative, you stated that schools will have to impose restrictions which included bell to bell restrictions on smart phones in K-12 schools. Including all other non-school devices. Within this, you are giving schools $13.5 million dollars in funding to be made in assistance to storage solutions to keep phones held throughout the entire school day. “In More Learning, Less Scrolling: Creating Distraction Free Schools” - On page 4 of the first paragraph under “findings”. It states, “Educators and administrators “indicate” that non-educational, internet enabled devices in the classroom have a negative impact on student learning and creativity. The effect of personal communication technology on students' ability to learn and successfully demonstrate the ability to think critically and creatively was a recurring theme at each session, with the attachment to cell phones being the primary driver behind this issue.” The bill states non- educational devices in the classroom. Now, I ask why not educational devices? Majority of educational devices can still access the same websites as non-educational devices. Many have restrictions which students always bypass in a way, shape, and form. If students don't respect the restrictions on school owned devices, what makes you think they will listen when the state forces the schools to take the students' devices during the entire duration of the school day? The amount of students that would be in suspension for such small reasons as this, wouldn't only go and look bad towards the school but towards your administration. In return it would make you look incompetent. Furthermore, you mentioned in your statement on your official government website that you will provide schools with “Over $13.5 million in funding, for purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction free’ your website has stated. Having the flexibility and official plan would lead to a multitude of issues and lawsuits for schools leading to your administration. I ask you what if a school doesn't enforce these laws.? What happens next? Though giving the schools flexibility is good intention, at face value. A face value I agree with. Though, this is much too open ended. Leaving holes and loopholes for the schools. Possibly even causing lawsuits between parents and schools that could and would be brought up in courts."     This petition's other purpose is to end the NYS Regents exams being mandatory for graduation for both the class of 2026 and 2027 and at the least the optionality for it and at best the elimination of it for each and every class following 2026.     The 2027 - 2028 school year would start in September 2027 and would continue the regents as mandatory without the requirement of graduation. While the classes of both 2026 and 2027 would be the last to require for graduation. New York is one of the last few states to have this practice and is moving away from this practice slowly, yet why does the class of 2026 and 2027 have to get the last of it? It seems unfair and rather rude. Then you continue it in the years afterwards with meaningless exams that at that point will cause more harm than good to not only the child but NYS school system. It seems like a waste of resources and money that could be going into other practices. Standardized testing to this degree has become a thing of the past. The mixtures of not only trying to pass the class but also personal life and issues, with at best an average of 2 statewide regents per year would affect test scores and overall class scores. Why mark one singular test on one singular date instead of an entire year of education? Why not make just that year count towards graduation? Lastly, it doesn't help how every district, region, and every school does a practice different than the other. It often leaves students confused when facing the regents. Resulting in low test scores and failures for even some of the best students making not only the schools but the education system look flawed.     All I ask of this is at least 1,000 signatures, 1,000 signatures of support so I can take this up to Albany and make this great change to our school system for not only us but our children and their children!