Some of New Jersey’s approximately 600 school districts have been revisiting and toughening longtime cellphone policies in recent months amid rising awareness of problems, including in-class distractions and cyber bullying.
Ramsey, a K-12 district in Bergen County, rolled out a new policy Jan. 10 requiring students to keep their cellphones off during the school day. Other districts have similar rules. (See examples of cellphone policies from 12 school districts listed below.)
But many policies reviewed by NJ Advance Media in the days after Murphy’s call for statewide restrictions appear to steer clear of what might be considered an absolute ban. Ramsey’s policy, for example, carves out multiple exceptions, including allowing students to use their phones in class for medical reason.
“I am unaware of any school district’s board that has literally banned them,” Vito Gagliardi, a longtime school board attorney whose firm represents approximately three dozen districts, told NJ Advance Media.
Cellphone restrictions in schools have been commonplace for some time, and not just in New Jersey. Nearly 77 percent of schools in the U.S. had some form of a cellphone ban in place as of 2022, according to the National Center on Education Statistics.
School district policies on cellphones are “increasingly becoming more consistent in banning during instructional time,” said Richard Bozza, executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators.
Limited cellphone use during instruction time helps eliminate classroom distractions, but still allows students to have their cellphones available during the day if parents want a way to reach their child immediately in the event of an emergency, he said.
“A majority of parents are in agreement about banning them, but not necessarily a full ban,” Bozza said.
An Emerson College poll, released Thursday, found that 38 percent of New Jersey residents “strongly support” banning cellphones in classroom, while only 6 percent “strongly oppose” a ban.
The rest of those surveyed included 26 percent who are somewhat supportive of a ban, 16 percent who are somewhat opposed and 16 percent who are undecided, the poll found.
During his call-in television show on News 12 New Jersey on Wednesday, Murphy acknowledged the issue is complicated.
“There is a legitimate question: How would I reach my kid? Or how could the kid reach mom or dad? That’s something we’re gonna have to work through,” Murphy said.
But he appeared to stand by his call for a classroom ban.
“Subject to the security question — and that’s paramount, obviously we’ve seen tragedies in schools over the past several years — I think this is a no-brainer,” Murphy said.
The state Department of Education does not track cellphone policies in local districts, a spokesperson said.
Some school districts are continuing to struggle for a consensus on a topic that involves balancing the rights of students and parents with the need to maintain order and focus in school buildings.
The K-12 Montclair Public Schoolsdistrict announced in June a partnership with Yondr, a San Francisco -based company whose best-known product is a lockable pouch for cellphones. The pouch renders a cellphone unusable until the pouch is tapped on an unlocking base.
However, Montclair interim schools superintendent Damen Cooper postponed the pilot program to begin using the pouches. The proposed program remains under review.
Here’s a look at some cellphone policies and discussions underway in a dozen New Jersey school districts:
CHERRY HILL
The K-12 Cherry Hill district in Camden County tightened restrictions on cellphones for the 2024-25 school year.
Under the policy adopted by the school board June 25, while students may not use wireless communications devices in classrooms, cellphones are allowed during lunch, recess, between classes, while on school buses, or during activities.
Students must keep their wireless communication devices silenced and in a secure place, such as their locker or a closed backpack, during times when device use is prohibited. Students may wear smart watches at all times, but are not allowed to use the devices for any purpose other than timekeeping during instructional periods.
JERSEY CITY
The K-12 district’s school board voted unanimously in December to direct Superintendent Norma Fernandez and the board’s lawyer to draft a new policy that could either limit or ban student cellphone use, the Jersey Journal reported.
NEWARK
The K-12 district first adopted a cellphone policy in 2008 and last modified it in 2019. It does not ban cellphones, but outlines restrictions and other conditions.
“Safety is the primary concern for the Board of Education and the ability of parents and guardians to communicate with their children in an emergency situation is essential. Further, the district understands that students may need access to their cell phones when walking home from school or for after school activities that they may attend immediately upon leaving the school premises,” reads the policy, which was provided Thursday to NJ Advance Media.
Students are allowed to carry cellphones during the school day, if they are off.
“If the student desires to carry a cell phone during the school day, the parent/guardian and student must execute a user agreement specifically identifying the cell phone and acknowledging that the district assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage to the cell phone. The form must be on file in the school office before the device is brought to school,” according to the policy.
VERNON
The K-12 school district in Sussex County updated its cellphone policy starting with the 2024-25 school year. Students in all grades may not turn on or use their phones while in class or participating in an activity. However, there are some exceptions, including when a teacher, coach or adviser gives permission, for medical reasons and during an emergency, according to the district.
NEW BRUNSWICK
New Brunswick Schools Superintendent Aubrey Johnson outlined the K-12 district’s policy in a letter to parents Sept. 7.
“Students whose cell phone use disrupts the learning environment — whether inside or outside the classroom — or violates the rights of others through harassment, bullying, unauthorized recording, or unlawful activity, will face disciplinary actions, including suspension. Cell phones, including headphones, should not be visible unless they are being used for academic purposes,“ she said.
“We will be closely monitoring cell phone use in our schools this year and may consider banning cell phones if significant improvements are not observed,” Johnson wrote to parents.
MIDDLETOWN
The K-12 Middletown school district, where the governor lives, adopted its “Away for the Day” cellphone policy in July. It requires students to turn off cellphones in class and bans students caught bullying from bringing phones to school at all.
Students are barred from bringing their phones to school if they “embarrass, demean, bully, harass, intimidate, or otherwise violate the privacy or safety of another person” while going online in or outside of school, according to the policy.
The policy requires elementary school and middle school students to keep their cellphones and other devices off and in storage, such as a backpack, during the school day. High school students are being given more leeway, with the policy specifying only that cellphones and other devices must be turned off during “instructional and educational time” and never used in locker rooms or restrooms.
PENNSAUKEN
The K-12 school district in Camden County updated its policy starting with the 2022-23 school year.
Students are allowed to bring their phones to school but must shut them off upon entering the building. The rules also apply to parents, adults and community members.
MENDHAM BOROUGH
The K-8 district in Morris County outlines on its website cell phone restrictions at the Mountain View Middle School.
“Cell phones and other electronic communication devices must be deactivated and stored in lockers during the school day and during school activities before and after school,” it reads.
However, there’s a wrinkle.
“Lockers do not have locks, and the Board of Education cannot accept financial responsibility for private property in a locker,” the policy reads.
ROXBURY
In Roxbury in Morris County, students are restricted when using phones in grades 5 and 6 at Lincoln Roosevelt School.
“We know that a large majority of fifth and sixth graders bring cell phones to school on a daily basis. Nevertheless, students are not permitted to use them while at school or on the bus. Any cell phone brought to school must be turned off and remain in the student’s backpack during the entire school day, including on the bus ride to and from school,” reads the policy on the school’s website.
RAMSEY
The K-12 Ramsey school district in Bergen County rolled out its new cell phone policy on Jan. 10.
Ramsey High School is requiring students to store their devices in Yondr cellphone pouches during the school day, district officials said.
Ramsey students in grades K-5 are required to keep their cellphones off and stored in backpacks. Middle school students must store their cellphones in their lockers and are not allowed to check them during the school day.
CAMDEN CITY
Students may bring their cellphones to school, but they must be shut off prior to entering buildings, the school district says on its website.
MOUNT OLIVE
Mount Olive High School in Morris County allows students to bring their cellphones, but ringers must be silenced throughout the school day.
In order to make a phone call or send a text, students first need the permission of an administrator, according to the school’s 2024-25 handbook.
The policy at Mount Olive Middle School is tougher. Cellphones must remain in lockers at all times, including lunch.
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