Feb. 11, 2026
By Chloe Lin
Staff Writer
Public school students in the Garden State will face a big change next school year, following a statewide cellphone ban signed by Gov. Phil Murphy on Jan 8. The bill, which Murphy signed into law during his final days in office, will restrict students’ access to phones and other smart devices from the first to the last bell of the day.
New Jersey is joining 36 states and Washington, D.C., all of which have enacted or implemented laws or rules limiting access to phones and other electronic devices in schools, according to ABC News.
Although the phone ban will not affect senior Sayaka Martinez, who will be graduating in June, she said she recognizes its benefits.
“I’d feel more disconnected, but… I would be more focused on what I’m doing in school instead of what’s going on outside of it,” Martinez said.
She said the phone ban could have benefits that extend beyond academic performance.
“It might make kids more social and encourage them to talk to people they wouldn’t have before,” Martinez said.
While she recognizes the merits of a phone ban, Martinez said it would be better for schools to decide for themselves how to handle phone use on their campuses.
“It would be more fair for individual schools to set their [own] policies because they know what’s best for their students,” Martinez said.
She said that as long as students have access to their phones, that is what holds their attention most.
“I use it to talk to my friends, look stuff up and mostly listen to music,” Martinez said. “I pick it up maybe 15 times [per hour].”
Unlike Martinez, Freshman Isabella Apolo strongly opposes the new phone ban, saying it may not be as effective as supporters of the legislation expect.
“Kids are already impacted [by] phones, and attention spans aren’t that long. If anything, it [will] make them want their phones more,” Apolo said.
While the legislation is intended to benefit students’ mental health, she believes it could have the opposite effect.
“[It helps] my ability to focus since I like knowing that if anything happens, my phone will be near me,” Apolo said.
Senior Dylan Koloski said he believes schools should have even fewer phone restrictions than those that exist now.
“Students should have the ability to use their phones whenever they’d like,” Koloski said. “If there is a problem, [consequences] should be case-by-case. A blanket ban is too much.”
Koloski said he lacks confidence in the ban’s effectiveness.
“It might make kids more social and encourage them to talk to people they wouldn’t have before.”
“Kids will still try and find a way around it,” Koloski said. “It could be a good solution. I’m just not sure if it’s the right one.”
Despite his concerns, Koloski said a phone ban could bring some positive outcomes.
“Fewer people will be by themselves on their phone, [so] it would probably improve social skills,” Koloski said.
Geometry teacher Ms. Smietana said she has logistical concerns about the phone ban.
“Getting rid of [phones] completely sometimes hinders things…. Having a phone as a backup device so students can complete work and move on with the lesson is nice to have,” Smietana said. “Not having it at all may be problematic.”
Smietana said LHS’ current phone policy is effective.
“I’ve been doing the ‘put the cellphones away’ thing for many years, even before it was a regulation,” Smietana said. “The [system] we already have is working really well.”
Smietana said that, regardless of the type of phone regulations in place, educators should promote classroom engagement.
“The teachers and administration agree that we want our students to have fewer distractions,” Smietana said. “We want them to be involved in classroom conversations and talking to each other, [while also staying] focused on their work.”
Although the high school has not yet developed any concrete plans regarding the implementation of the statewide phone ban, Vice Principal Ms. Ringen said she intends to be flexible.
“I want to come up with something that meets [students’] needs,” Ringen said. “It’s a learning curve.”
The state’s phone ban already includes exceptions for students with medical needs and those who require translation services. It also makes exceptions for students with accommodations listed in their 504 Plans and Individualized Education Programs.
Additionally, Ringen said there will be exceptions for students who require their phones for coursework, such as the Digital Perspectives class, journalism class and the Lyndhurst College Acceleration Program. She said it is unclear how the new law will apply during LHS’ open lunch and field trips.
Ringen said there will be a period of adjustment as students, faculty and administrators get used to new protocols.
“I think any change is a challenge. Once it gets moving, it tends to work itself out,” Ringen said. “It becomes part of our normal routine.”
