NJ Public School Cellphone Ban Raises Concerns and Positive Results

New Jersey students have returned to school as the State initiates a new ban on cellphones in the classroom, raising debate about children’s education and mental health in the digital age.

Former Gov. Phil Murphy signed the ban into state law on Jan. 13, 2026, one week before Mikie Sherrill took office. The law (P.L. 2025, c. 195) requires K-12 schools to restrict the use of cellphones and other internet-enabled devices during the school day, but exempts school-provided devices necessary for education and instruction, such as district-issued laptops. 

“We are ensuring New Jersey schools are a place for learning and engagement, not distracting screens that detract from academic performance,” Murphy stated.

Some districts have taken additional precautions to enforce this ban. At Newark Public Schools, the largest school district in the state, students must follow an “off and away” policy, meaning they must turn off their devices and store them in pouches during school hours. Chalkbeat reported that one Newark public school set up fines of $5-20 for misusing or breaking pouches.

Jennifer Foster, a Rutgers psychological program director, said that the statewide ban will provide “a strong foundation for student well-being.”

“Many students have become accustomed to constant access to their phones, and we need to consider what happens when that access is taken away. Some students will adjust easily, some will need additional support, and others may need more intensive intervention. How schools approach this will be critical to the ban’s success,” Foster added.

However, according to Chalkbeat, local parents and teachers have raised concerns about being able to contact children during emergencies without devices. Likewise, in an article by New Jersey Family, clinical psychologist Dr. Joseph Galasso said that students who have grown dependent on devices may initially experience anxiety without them.

“Over time, I believe that this is a positive boundary that will help them to have to cope with emotions in real time, deal with perceived adversity, and still make it through the day. This is how we become resilient,” Galasso said.

Other states that have implemented similar bans have demonstrated significant progress. A study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that a Florida school district that banned cell phones in classrooms saw student test scores improve by two to three percentiles two years after the initial adjustment period.

So far, the Garden State’s own cellphone ban is said to have yielded positive results. Before the law took effect in NJ, Newark’s public school district participated in a pilot program to test the ban in the previous school year.

Joicki Floyd, vice president of the Newark Teachers Union and teacher at Malcolm X Shabazz High School, said the pilot was a success.

“Students were definitely more engaged, more focused, and then we were able to see where they lacked in certain skills, so that we would be able to…accommodate what they did not know or what they needed to learn,” Floyd said.

With NJ still fresh into the school year, the state’s ban on devices in the classroom continues to spark debate about the short- and long-term effects on students. However, some advocates remain optimistic about the ban’s benefits to children’s mental health and academic performance.

“Over time, pairing clear and consistent expectations around cell phone use with the right supports can help improve student well-being and create a more positive school climate,” said Foster.