New Jersey Funds Phone-Free Classrooms as Dozens of School Districts Tighten Student Device Rules
New Jersey has reduced student cellphone use by financing school districts with stricter classroom rules. Under a new statewide initiative, public and charter schools in all 21 counties are receiving money to ban cellphones full-day for middle and high school students.
The state’s new Phone-Free Schools Grant Program sponsors the project to reduce classroom distractions and improve student focus. State education officials discovered that dozens of districts received nearly $1 million to adopt “bell-to-bell” restrictions. From the first bell till dismissal, students cannot use phones or other electronics.
86 school districts—including 15 charter schools—receive grants. Lockers, lockable pouches, or centralized phone check-in cabinets can be installed with the funds. Districts may train personnel to administer the new standards consistently and equally to all children.
State officials said the project addresses concerns about smartphones and social media’s effects on student learning, attentiveness, and mental health. Unlimited phone use in school can damage academic performance and classroom discipline, therefore a state commission advised schools to intervene. After those suggestions, the award program was announced.
Governor Phil Murphy has stated that prohibiting phones from classrooms benefits teachers, parents, and students. The governor thinks limiting technology distractions enhances student focus and productivity.
Grants depend on district size and need. significantly larger districts earned significantly larger awards than $1,000 districts. Over $52,000 was awarded to Hudson County’s Union City School District. Newark Public Schools received one of the highest allocations due to its large student population and system-wide implementation needs.
Many New Jersey schools have cellphone policies, but enforcement varies. Some schools compel students to switch off and hide their phones during lunch or breaks, while others allow limited use. The new incentive scheme encourages communities to adopt full-day bans with adequate infrastructure to improve standards.
The state wants equal learning circumstances in public and charter schools, as the plan incorporates charter schools. Storage systems and policy deployment were funded for several charter schools.
Experts say the program’s success depends on how well schools communicate and enforce new rules to students and parents. Supporters say clearer regulations and state financing help schools hold children accountable without taxing districts.
The effort may increase school cellphone controls, especially for 6-12th graders, in New Jersey. State education administrators expect the spending to increase classroom attentiveness, eliminate disruptions, and structure instruction statewide.
Sources
New Jersey Department of Education
Office of the Governor of New Jersey
