The New Jersey Department of Education is aiming to create an “unplugged” classroom setting starting this school year. Many other districts and states are in the process of adopting stricter in-school device policies to reduce distractions.
What the Policy Says
- The Jersey City Board of Education unanimously passed the ban on personal communication devices on September 18, 2025, to take effect October 1, 2025.
- This includes smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets. This rule might extent to personal laptops, which means students would start using school-issued chromebooks only in classes (I will update this page if so!)
- Under the new policy, students must have their phones in backpacks, lockers, or in the pouches provided by the school during class time.
- Use of devices is allowed during noninstructional times, such as in the hallways and at lunch.
- There are exemptions for students with an IEP (Individualized Education Plan), IHP (Individualized Health Plan), or under Section 504 accommodations.
- Repeated violations may require students to turn over their device each morning (this just depends on your school)
Potential Benefits
- Reduced distractions
- Improved focus and engagement in classrooms
- Better social interaction among students
- Supports policy alignment — consistency across all 39 public schools in the district.
This is definitely a big change! For any students who are bummed about it, it might be helpful to know that even the presence of your phone reduces memory recall. A study with undergraduates found that those who had their smartphone nearby (even if turned off) had poorer recall accuracy on memory tasks compared to those without their phones. So, this policy might benefit you more than you’d think! 😊😊
Jersey City Ed 