New Jersey becomes the latest state to ban cellphones in classrooms, as Governor Phil Murphy signs bill into law on Thursday.
As part of his final year in office, Murphy had prioritized banning phones during class, citing improved classroom engagement and reduced distractions. The new law requires New Jersey public school districts to prohibit students from using cellphones and other smart devices during regular school hours.
According to Murphy, studies conducted at Ramsey High School have shown a significant increase in teacher engagement, student-to-student interaction, and attentiveness among students. "Students are more focused, they're less anxious, and they are socializing and laughing with each other," the governor said.
Under the new law, the state education commission will develop guidelines on restricting phone use during school hours, buses, or at designated events. Boards of education must then adopt policies in line with these guidelines.
However, students may be allowed to use their phones in emergencies, for translation services, or if a healthcare professional recommends it. Principals and administrators can also make reasonable accommodations for students to use phones for educational purposes.
Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie, who sponsored the bill, says she's heard from students that phone-free time is greatly appreciated, allowing them to focus on their studies without distractions.
New Jersey joins about 16 states in implementing "bell-to-bell" cellphone bans, which prohibit students from using devices during school hours. Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill commended Murphy for signing the bill, citing research showing improved mental health and academic results when children put away screens.
The new law will take effect at the start of the 2026-27 school year, with guidelines to be written within 90 days.
As part of his final year in office, Murphy had prioritized banning phones during class, citing improved classroom engagement and reduced distractions. The new law requires New Jersey public school districts to prohibit students from using cellphones and other smart devices during regular school hours.
According to Murphy, studies conducted at Ramsey High School have shown a significant increase in teacher engagement, student-to-student interaction, and attentiveness among students. "Students are more focused, they're less anxious, and they are socializing and laughing with each other," the governor said.
Under the new law, the state education commission will develop guidelines on restricting phone use during school hours, buses, or at designated events. Boards of education must then adopt policies in line with these guidelines.
However, students may be allowed to use their phones in emergencies, for translation services, or if a healthcare professional recommends it. Principals and administrators can also make reasonable accommodations for students to use phones for educational purposes.
Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie, who sponsored the bill, says she's heard from students that phone-free time is greatly appreciated, allowing them to focus on their studies without distractions.
New Jersey joins about 16 states in implementing "bell-to-bell" cellphone bans, which prohibit students from using devices during school hours. Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill commended Murphy for signing the bill, citing research showing improved mental health and academic results when children put away screens.
The new law will take effect at the start of the 2026-27 school year, with guidelines to be written within 90 days.
A phone-free classroom sounds like a dream come true for students and teachers alike. I mean, can you imagine how focused those kids would be if they weren't glued to their screens the whole time? It's awesome that NJ is taking a stand on this - it's about time we started valuing face-to-face interaction over phone time! 
As long as there are some exceptions for emergencies and stuff, I'm all good with this law. Less distractions means better learning outcomes, in my humble opinion 
so I guess it's finally official that New Jersey is the latest state to try and suck the creativity out of its kids... just kidding, sorta 
. seriously though, a phone ban in classrooms? it sounds like a great idea if you want to watch paint dry or attend a lecture on crop rotation 
. i mean, who needs social skills or focus when you can scroll through your fomo feed all day? and what's next, no coffee shops near schools so kids have to actually learn stuff 
? on the bright side, maybe it'll increase student engagement... or just make them super bored out of their minds 
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. I mean, I can see how distracting phones can be, especially for kids who are trying to focus on their studies 
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. Anyway, only time will tell if this actually makes a difference 
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I'm super bummed they're closed for renovations until next month... guess that's a good excuse for me to catch up on some reading while I wait 
anyway, back to New Jersey's new law - seems like it could be a win-win for both teachers and students. I mean who doesn't love more face-to-face time with friends or classmates? might just make school feel less like a prison 
. Like, what about students who need their phones for accessibility reasons or have family emergencies? But at the same time, I get it - studies show that phone-free time can improve engagement and focus 
. And let's be real, kids these days are glued to their screens all day, every day 
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. I mean, who needs phones in class anymore? It's about time we get back to learning how to focus without our screens glued to our faces 
. Plus, it's not like students are gonna be totally lost or anything - there's always Google for that 
. It's all about finding that balance between technology use and actual learning time, you know? And who knows, maybe we'll even start to see some productivity and creativity come out of the woodwork 
. Governor Murphy is gonna be remembered as a hero for this one 
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i spent like 3 weeks exploring Tokyo and Kyoto and i swear the food there is out of this world 
i had the most incredible bowl of ramen at this tiny little shop in shinjuku and it was like a flavor explosion in my mouth 
anyway back to nj being phone free... idk if i agree with it or not but its definitely an interesting idea