New Jersey joins other American states in banning cellphones for students during school hours

Students in New Jersey will soon have less screen time during school. Governor Phil Murphy has signed a new law that stops students from using cellphones and other devices for personal reasons in K-12 schools. According to AP News, the law asks schools to make clear rules about phone use. Murphy said the goal is simple: “We’re going to rid classrooms of needless distractions and encourage our children to be more attentive, engaged during the school day.” The rules will start in the 2026-2027 school year.

How the law will work

The law does not take phones away completely. Students can still use them for schoolwork or special lessons. What changes is that students cannot use phones for texting, social media, or games during class. Schools will decide how to follow the law. Many may ask students to keep phones in pouches or lockers. There will be exceptions for emergencies or special needs.

The main aim is to make classrooms calm and focused. Teachers hope students will pay more attention, talk more with classmates, and learn better without screens distracting them.

New Jersey joins other states

New Jersey is not the first state to do this. AP News says 37 states and Washington, D.C., now limit phone use in schools. In 19 states and D.C., phones are banned the whole school day. Some states, like Georgia and Florida, only ban phones for younger students in K-8. A few states give advice but no law, and some states still have no rules.

Lawmakers and teachers want students to focus more, learn better, and talk more with classmates. They believe too much phone use in class can hurt attention, learning, and social skills.

Students already see the change

At Ramsey High School, where Murphy signed the law, students say limiting phones is working. Massimo Randazzo told AP News that storing phones in pouches made students talk more instead of staring at screens. “The space felt more social and more present,” he said. Teachers also noticed students joining discussions more and paying closer attention in class.

Many students feel less stressed. They are not worried about checking messages all the time. Breaks are now for real conversation and social time. Some even say school feels friendlier and more connected.

Looking ahead

Schools will use the next year to get ready. They will decide how to manage phones during class. Some may use lockers or pouches. Others may create teacher-supervised rules for limited use.

Educators hope the law will help students focus, learn, and connect with each other better. For students, it is more than a rule. It is a way to make school a place to learn, talk, and be present—without phones taking all the attention.