NJ Schools Are Banning Cell Phones. What Experts Say it will Mean for Kids
written by Dina El Nabli, posted on New Jersey Family
Governor Phil Murphy today signed legislation requiring all New Jersey public school districts to restrict student cell phone use during the school day, beginning with the 2026–2027 school year. He signed the bill into law at Ramsey High School, which already has a phone-free policy in place.
“With today’s bill signing, we are ensuring New Jersey schools are a place for learning and engagement, not distracting screens that detract from academic performance,” Murphy said, adding that teachers in districts that already have bans in place point out that students are “more focused, less anxious, and they are socializing and laughing with each other—not through a screen—but in hallways and classrooms.”
The New Jersey Department of Education will release high-level guidance, but local school districts will control the details of how to implement the new law, from how phones are stored, how exceptions are handled, and how families communicate during the day.
We asked experts to share their take on how the new law will affect kids and teens, from paying attention in class to socializing at lunch. Here’s what they shared:
Improving presence and focus
Liz Nissim, Ph.D., a clinical and school psychologist with Psychological & Educational Consulting in Livingston, said cell phones are a quick way to derail learning.
“Students are being bombarded with texts, Snapchat notifications, and feel the urge to respond so they don’t lose their streaks,” Nissim told New Jersey Family. “It leads to split attention, poor concentration and difficulty with comprehension of lessons and follow through on assignments in the classroom.”
The result is an onslaught of attention challenges. “Their attention is very divided, mimicking symptoms of ADHD, when in reality, it’s technology-induced distraction,” Nissim said. The new law will address this challenge head on by helping students be more present during the school day, she said.
At KIPP Hatch Middle School in Camden, phones have never been allowed during the school day. Danyel Williams, the School Leader, says the biggest benefit is focus. “When phones are out of the picture, students are less distracted and more present in class,” Williams said.
The developmental upside
“Being phone-free during the school day supports kids in developing core emotional and social skills that screens often interrupt: emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, attention, and real-time social problem-solving,” said Melissa Tract, LCSW, a child psychotherapist. “When phone-free policies are clear, predictable, and school-wide, they actually reduce anxiety rather than increase it.”
While the initial adjustment won’t be easy, there will be long term gains, experts agree. Joseph Galasso, PsyD, clinical psychologist and CEO of Baker Street Behavioral Health, headquartered in Franklin Lakes with offices in Bergen, Essex and Monmouth counties, said kids and teens who have grown dependent on their devices may feel anxious without them at first.
“Over time, I believe that this is a positive boundary that will help them to have to cope with emotions in real time, deal with perceived adversity, and still make it through the day,” Galasso said. “This is how we become resilient.”
The benefits for neurodiverse kids
Research shows neurodiverse kids such as those with ADHD are generally more likely to spend too much time on their phones. Constant cell phone use creates overstimulation and quick dopamine rewards, making it harder to transition to focused learning in class, said Jessica McCarthy, PsyD, a Montvale/Chatham-based clinical psychologist, clinical neuropsychologist, and certified school psychologist who specializes in working with neurodivergent populations, including kids and teens with ADHD.
“Neurodiverse children – and adults – are particularly drawn to cell phone use because of the high degree of stimulation and control that one has over the device,” McCarthy said. “However, research has repeatedly shown that cell phone use drains more than it replenishes cognitive resources, which impacts attention and engagement even further upon returning to task.”
Teaching kids how cell phone use impacts learning can be helpful, especially for those who struggle to refocus after being on their devices. “I’d love to see an overhaul of the educational school day to provide more breaks, physical movement, access to the arts, and other ways to naturally facilitate dopamine through areas of interest and passion,” McCarthy said. “I think there can be a time and a place for cell phones, and perhaps school can be a place where we hold space for opportunities other than cell phones to help with emotion regulation and executive function.”
Socializing without devices
Remember when you were in school and kids and teens actually talked to one another without a device in hand? Advocates of the ban hope to see this scenario became a reality again. Without cell phones, Williams said lunch and recess are already very social at her middle school. “You hear a lot of conversation, laughter, and kids just being kids,” Williams said.
Real and genuine connection happens when distractions are removed. “Schools that have implemented full day bans report that students make more eye contact, talk more with peers, and show greater interest in what’s happening around them,” said Christine Miles, M.S., Ed, a psychologist and thought leader in listening intelligence.
This matters for a child’s development because unstructured times like lunch are where important social skills are practiced, Tract said. “Without phones, kids are more likely to talk, joke, negotiate friendships, and work through small conflicts in real time. These moments foster connection and belonging, which are protective for mental health.”
Taking social pressure down a notch
If comparison is the thief of joy, constant social media access on our kids’ cell phones is the fuel that feeds the pressure of constant comparison.
The developmental cost of being on cell phones throughout the day can’t be understated, experts agree. It creates an environment in which school-aged kids compare every aspect of themselves to others, Galasso said.
Cutting down the number of hours and access to cell phones will give kids much-needed breathing room, Tract said. “Reducing access during the school day gives kids a break from that constant feedback loop. This can lower anxiety, improve mood regulation, and help children anchor their self-worth in real-world experiences rather than online validation.”
Following up with boundaries at home
A shift away from cell phones in class will make schools become more of a community hub again, Galasso said.
“Having 3 children of my own, I know the cell phone is a great way to communicate with them during the day, but it’s also okay to have that communication before and after school,” Nissim said.
At KIPP Hatch Middle School, parents know they can contact the school anytime, and students can always reach the main office if something comes up, Williams said.
The experts we asked all agreed a ban like this will work best when it is also supported with boundaries at home. For starters, parents can set rules for keeping devices out of bedrooms and charging them in common areas, Miles said.
One way to get buy in from your kids is to set ground rules together. “The key is collaboration rather than control: involving kids in setting boundaries, discussing how technology impacts their mood, and modeling healthy phone use themselves,” Tract said. “When kids feel respected and included, they’re more likely to internalize healthy habits.”
