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New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has proposed a statewide ban on cell phones in K-12 classrooms during his final State of the State address on Tuesday (January 14). The governor emphasized that cell phones contribute to a rise in cyberbullying and make it challenging for students to focus and retain information. Murphy stated, "They are fueling a rise in cyberbullying, and they are making it incredibly difficult for our kids, not only to learn, but to retain the substance of what they learn."
The proposed ban would require over 600 New Jersey school districts to implement policies to create "phone-free schools." While the state would mandate the ban, individual districts would have the flexibility to determine how to enforce it. Some districts, like Cherry Hill and Woodbury, have already adopted similar measures, using locked pouches to store phones during school hours.
Governor Murphy's proposal aligns with initiatives from other states, such as New York and California, which have already implemented similar bans. The New Jersey Education Association supports the proposal, urging the Department of Education to collaborate with parents and educators to tailor policies to each community's needs.
In addition to the cell phone ban, Murphy reiterated his support for universal pre-K, full-day kindergarten, and lowering the voting age to 16 for local school board elections. If passed, the cell phone ban would take effect immediately and be implemented by the fall of this year.