On January 8th, Governor Phil Murphy signed a new law into place, stating that, starting in the 2026-2027 school year, a statewide law will be implemented to ban the use of cell phones for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade in public schools. As one of Murphy’s last events before he leaves office on January 20th, he gave his full approval at Ramsey High School, which has been phone-free for almost a year now. 

Students will be able to use their phones for translation services, in case of emergency, and if the school receives documentation from a healthcare professional stating that access to a phone is necessary. Principals and administrators are also allowed to make reasonable accommodations to use phones for educational purposes.

New Jersey is not the first state to implement a law like this. Over three dozen states and Washington, DC, as of early 2026, have set in place restrictions or limits on students’ phone use.

People are very passionate about the cell phone ban. Arguments include that due to the ban, parents are losing direct communication with their children in case of an emergency.  Teachers could also have trouble enforcing the new policies. The new policies could also limit institutional flexibility, taking away some apps and websites used for educational purposes by teachers.

The goal of the law is to eliminate distractions and enhance students’ engagement during the school day. Improving students’ mental health and social interaction is also the aim. There is some flexibility with this law within districts regarding creating guidelines; however, the law still prohibits the use of cell phones for noneducational use, bell-to-bell.