Gov. Murphy proposes banning cell phones in N.J. schools during State of State address

Gov. Phil Murphy wants New Jersey to join the growing number of states that are banning students from using cell phones to ease distractions during classroom instruction.

Murphy issued a directive during his annual State of the State address Tuesday, calling for every district to develop a policy restricting mobile devices. His goal is to establish phone-free schools in order to address a youth mental health crisis and improve learning.

The proposal drew a standing ovation from lawmakers.

“Enough is enough. It is time for action,” Murphy said.

In another education initiative, Murphy said New Jersey would begin requiring all districts to offer full-day kindergarten. A timeline was not given. During his tenure, Murphy has pushed for early childhood education and universal preschool. Murphy also repeated his support for a bill that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote for school board candidates.

Educators have complained that keeping students engaged during learning has become increasingly difficult as they spend crucial instruction time telling kids to put away cell phones. They believe banning the devices will improve students’ concentration as well as their mental health.

It is not uncommon for students to watch movies or videos on their phones during class, educators say. Others are checking social media accounts or texting friends.

Under Murphy’s proposal for phone-free schools, the state Department of Education would develop guidelines for the state’s more than 600 districts to use to develop policies banning cell phones. The policies for kindergarten through 12th grade should be age-appropriate and based on grade level, he said.

Murphy’s proposal resembles legislation introduced last year by State Sen. Paul Moriarty (D., Gloucester) and Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie (D., Essex). The Senate passed the bill Tuesday, 36-0.

“Unrestricted cell phone use in our schools has become a crisis that disrupts learning and negatively affects the mental health of students,” Moriarty said in a statement.

» READ MORE: Cherry Hill School District is banning cell phones in classrooms starting in September

The lawmakers’ policies restrict smartphones, smartwatches, and any type of cell phone. Local boards would be required to adopt a policy, but districts could decide how to implement the restrictions, which could include sealed magnetic devices that enable students to keep phones in their possession but locked until the end of the day, or requiring students to keep devices in lockers or backpacks. Exceptions could be made for students with individual education plans or health conditions that require mobile devices.

Murphy has said he plans to work with both lawmakers. The legislators’ bills, if adopted, would take effect immediately, and specific school policies would be expected to go into effect the first full school year following passage.

Nationally, most individual public schools prohibit cell phone usage for nonacademic purposes, with 76% enacting bans of some kind in the 2021-22 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. At least 19 states have passed laws or enacted policies that ban or restrict the devices or recommend local districts enact their own bans, according to Education Week.

Despite a national movement, some parents have objected to cell phone bans and want their children to have access to the devices during the school day in the event of an emergency.

Some districts, such as Woodbury, Cherry Hill, and Glassboro, have already restricted cell phones. Officials say the move has improved school climate, reduced bullying and fights, and boosted student achievement. Some students are playing board games during lunch instead of spending time on their phones.

“I’m proud to say we’ve already taken the steps. I love the policy,” said Woodbury Superintendent Andrew Bell, who implemented a cell phone-free campus in September. “We were able to remove the distraction for some kids.”

The Camden school district has formed a committee to review its policy, which allows students to keep their mobile devices in their possession during the school day but turn them off before entering the school building. Middle and high school students are permitted to use phones and electronic devices for education purposes.

“Our district recognizes the challenges cell phones can pose in the classroom and the importance of creating an environment that supports focused learning,” Superintendent Katrina McCombs said in a statement. “Our goal is to ensure any updates strike the right balance between leveraging technology for education and minimizing distractions for our students.”