Photo Source: Damian Giletto/Imagn Images
In the final weeks of Governor Phil Murphy’s tenure, he visited Ramsey High School in Bergen County to sign bipartisan legislation requiring all school districts in New Jersey to adopt policies restricting the use of cell phones, tablets and smart watches in K-12 schools. Governor Murphy first announced his intention to pursue phone-free schools during his 2025 State of the State address and this long awaited initiative will finally take effect in the 2026–2027 school year.
Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill expressed her support for the legislation, saying, “I applaud the governor for taking a big step to protect our kids by making schools a safe, phone-free place to learn. Our young people are facing a mental health crisis, but we all know that when children put the screens down, their mental health and academic results improve.”
Tune into the episode below to hear us discuss Mike & Farnoosh discuss this new New Jersey initiative!
Montclair’s Current Phone Policy
New Jersey school districts continue to adjust their approaches to student cell phone use as the state moves toward stricter policies. In Montclair, schools currently follow an “off-and-away” policy that requires students to power off their cell phones and store them out of sight during the school day, such as in lockers or another designated location. The policy reflects growing concerns about how cell phones and social media impact student focus and learning. In a New Jersey Department of Education press release, Governor Phil Murphy said, “In recent years, we’ve begun to truly understand the threat that cell phones and access to social media pose to our children’s education… we need to give schools the tools necessary to remove the distractions that rob students of their attention and concentration.”
Montclair’s current policy differs from the stricter “bell-to-bell” approach. The current plan typically requires phones to be collected or held by school staff throughout the school day. Instead, students maintain physical access to their devices, though they are not permitted to use them. The policy was approved earlier this year after advocacy from Screen Aware Montclair, a parent-led group that pushed for a “bell-to-bell” model. At the time, the then-president of the PTA Council noted that parents were divided, with some supporting limits on phone use and others concerned about being unable to reach their children during the school day. Despite the compromise, Screen Aware Montclair said Montclair Public Schools were “ahead of the curve” for implementing a cell phone policy before it was mandated statewide.
What to Expect in Montclair Schools in 2026–2027
Beginning in September 2026, all New Jersey schools will be required to follow a statewide policy on student cell phone and social media use under a bill passed on December 22. The legislation directs the New Jersey Department of Education to develop age-appropriate and grade-level differentiated guidelines, giving districts a framework while allowing for local implementation. State lawmakers have largely supported a “bell-to-bell” approach, which would require cell phones brought to school to be stored by school staff at the start of the day and returned to students when classes end.
To support implementation, the NJDOE announced on December 18 that 86 school districts across the state received grants to help establish phone-free schools. The state budget includes $3 million in funding, which districts may use for storage solutions such as lockers, locked pouch systems, or check-in cabinets. Unfortunately, Montclair Public Schools did not receive a grant to help accomplish this new initiative.
In the coming months, Montclair Public Schools will share more concrete plans for this change.
