New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a statewide school cellphone ban into law on Thursday, with the new rule to take effect in the 2026-27 school year.
New Jersey will be one of 23 states, including New York, to ban cellphones from “bell to bell” in elementary, middle and high schools, according to Education Week.
“With today’s bill signing, we are ensuring New Jersey schools are a place for learning and engagement, not distracting screens that detract from academic performance,” Murphy said in a statement.
States have been banning cellphones in response to several studies, which show the phones lead to worse mental health, more distractions and lower achievement for students.
New York’s own ban, which went into effect during the current school year, has been widely praised by educators during its beginning months.
About 83% of schools reported “more positive classroom environments” and “better student engagement” during the first three months of the ban in New York.
“I look forward to implementing this important legislation and continuing to make progress on kids’ online safety and holding Big Tech accountable for the content they push toward our kids,” said New Jersey Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill, who will be sworn in on Jan. 20.
The New Jersey law requires all public boards of education to develop their own individual plans for enforcing the ban. Under the new law, schools must “prohibit the non-academic use of personal internet-enabled devices on school grounds during the school day.”
The catch-all language, also used in New York, is meant to cover devices such as tablets, smart watches and Meta’s smart glasses.
