CHERRY HILL — Governor Mikie Sherrill visited Cherry Hill High School East on Thursday, October 22, to hear directly from students about the implementation and impact of New Jersey’s statewide, bell-to-bell restrictions on cell phones and other internet-enabled devices in kindergarten through 12th grade schools. The visit comes days after the Governor said Rutgers University will serve as home to the State’s dedicated Social Media Research Center, the first of its kind in the nation.
Signed into law in January by former Governor Phil Murphy, the school cell phone ban requires all New Jersey public school districts to adopt policies restricting students’ use of these devices throughout the school day, beginning with the current school year.
“We know that when kids put down the screens, their mental health and academic performance improve. Giving students a school day free from constant digital distractions creates more room to learn, build friendships, and connect with their teachers,” said Governor Sherrill. “Today, I heard directly from students about how this change is affecting their lives. As we implement this law, we will continue our Administration’s comprehensive work to protect our kids’ mental health, support parents, and hold Big Tech accountable for the harmful content and addictive features they push on our children.”
During her visit, Governor Sherrill took part in a roundtable discussion with students about how the policy is shaping their classroom experiences, interactions with classmates and daily routines. The bell-to-bell restrictions cover the entire school day, including lunch, study hall and time between classes. Districts have flexibility to choose storage methods that meet their communities’ needs, including locked pouches, lockers, classroom storage, or requiring students to keep devices turned off and stored in their belongings.
At Cherry Hill High School East, students must keep their devices turned off and out of sight throughout the school day. If a faculty or staff member observes a student using a device in violation of the policy, Cherry Hill Public Schools follows a tiered approach that emphasizes student responsibility and encourages positive decision-making. Depending on the circumstances, this may include requiring the student to secure their device in a phone locker for the remainder of the school day.
“The bell-to-bell cell phone policies are helping schools create the kind of school climate where students can focus on learning, build relationships with their peers, and engage more fully with their teachers,” said Dr. Lily Laux, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education. “From what we’re hearing across the state, schools are seeing positive results. After an initial adjustment period, educators and administrators tell us that classrooms are more focused, students are more engaged, and disruptions tied to social media have declined. They’re also reporting fewer distractions during class, and a more vibrant atmosphere in the hallways and lunchrooms. While no single policy is a cure-all, these new policies are helping schools create better conditions for teaching and learning. That’s a meaningful step toward giving students the educational experience they deserve.”
“This is my 31st year in public education, and I can tell you that over the last decade, few things have changed the experience of schools as dramatically as the smartphone. Teachers have told us for years that student attention, focus, and connection were slipping away. We have seen the rise in anxiety. Principals have watched conflicts that begin online spill into their schools. Parents and students alike are worried about what social media is doing to sleep, to physical activity, and to attention spans. And as a father of ten children, I have seen it in my own household,” said Dr. Kwame Morton, Superintendent of Cherry Hill Public Schools. “Since the bell-to-bell restrictions took effect, our staff and students have reported greater student engagement and more face-to-face conversation among students. Our teachers no longer have to compete with a device for their students’ attention, and they can create more engaging classrooms. I thank Governor Sherrill for her leadership in improving our children’s mental health.”
“As a junior, I have experienced two years at Cherry Hill East when phones were permitted throughout the school day, and in just two months, I have witnessed positive changes under the new bell-to-bell cell phone policy. In previous years, I would often find myself distracted by checking messages or updates on my phone while trying to complete classwork,” said Giovannina Viglietta, a junior at Cherry Hill High School East. “However, this year, without my phone constantly competing for my attention, I have noticed that I am much more productive throughout the school day. This has also helped to reduce the overall stress I feel as well. Without the pressure to constantly check messages or keep up with social media, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I can be more focused in classes.”
“New Jersey’s bell-to-bell cell phone policy gives our children something increasingly rare: a break from the pressure to always be connected. By removing digital distractions during the school day, we’re making room for real conversations, deeper friendships, and meaningful connections that might otherwise be lost to a screen,” said Jamie Marchese, Cherry Hill Zone Parent Teacher Association Chair. “As a parent, I’m incredibly grateful to our state leaders for championing this important change and creating an environment where our children can truly thrive.”
The policy complements Governor Sherrill’s broader Kids’ Online Safety Agenda, which aims to protect children’s mental health and help parents navigate a rapidly changing digital environment. On her first day in office, Governor Sherrill created the Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and Awareness within the New Jersey Department of Health to coordinate efforts across state government to keep children safe online.
In August, Governor Sherrill signed three bills to better protect New Jersey children online, hold Big Tech accountable, and address the harmful and addictive effects of social media on young people. The legislation codifies the New Jersey Age-Appropriate Design Code, which limits the data companies can collect and retain from children, establishes safeguards around interactions between minors and adult users, requires platforms to set their default privacy settings for children to the highest level of privacy, and restricts certain platform features designed to keep young users constantly engaged. It also established a Social Media Research Center to independently study social media’s impacts, addictive features and emerging risks to children.
Earlier this week, Governor Sherrill said the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education had selected Rutgers University through a competitive grant process to host the State’s dedicated Social Media Research Center. Work is expected to begin immediately.
What They’re Saying:
“We owe our students a distraction-free environment to learn, especially as we continue working to address learning loss from COVID,” said Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald. “Teachers shouldn’t have to compete with phones for students’ attention. I don’t blame teens for being easily distracted. We know that these devices are designed to keep us hooked, and developing brains are particularly susceptible to those features. I commend Governor Sherrill for taking this issue seriously and building on the work of the Legislature and Governor Murphy to help students and teachers make the most of time spent in the classroom. Not everything government does will be popular, especially with teenagers. But sometimes setting boundaries is the best thing we can do for our kids. Believe me, there are days when I wish someone would take my phone away, too.”
“The impact of cell phones extends well beyond classroom distractions, affecting students’ mental health, attention spans, and their ability to fully engage with their teachers and peers,” said Senator Paul Moriarty. “By creating a more focused and supportive learning environment, we are giving students a greater opportunity to succeed academically while prioritizing their overall well-being. I am proud to see this commonsense policy being put into practice in schools across New Jersey.”
“The New Jersey School Boards Association remains committed to supporting our districts in fostering distraction-free education environments. These policies restricting student cell phone use empower our schools to prioritize instructional time and student engagement and to create learning environments where students can focus on academics and meaningful peer interaction,” said Dr. Timothy Purnell, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the New Jersey School Boards Association. “We will keep working with our districts to implement these policies effectively and to learn from their experience.”
“New Jersey PTA supports this cellphone ban because we believe every child deserves a school environment where they can focus on learning, build meaningful relationships, and succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. We recognize the challenges cellphones present in our schools and the importance of balancing technology with student learning and well-being,” said Dr. April Maxwell-Henley, President of the New Jersey Parent Teacher Association (PTA). “As these policies are implemented, parents, students, and educators must have a voice in the process. We are encouraged by reports from districts that have adopted similar policies and have seen positive educational outcomes. We appreciate Governor Sherrill’s leadership on this important issue and look forward to continued collaboration to ensure that students and families remain at the center of every decision.”
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