CHERRY HILL, N.J. (Camden County) — Gov. Mikie Sherrill visited Cherry Hill High School East on Thursday to hear from students about New Jersey’s statewide school cellphone restrictions, which took effect during the 2026-27 school year.
The governor participated in a roundtable discussion with students about how the restrictions have affected their classroom experiences, interactions with classmates and daily routines.
The law, signed in January 2026 by former Gov. Phil Murphy, requires all New Jersey public school districts to adopt policies restricting students’ use of cellphones and other internet-enabled devices throughout the school day.
The restrictions apply from the beginning to the end of the school day, including lunch periods, study halls and time between classes.
“We know that when kids put down the screens, their mental health and academic performance improve. Giving students a school day free from constant digital distractions creates more room to learn, build friendships, and connect with their teachers,” said Governor Sherrill. “Today, I heard directly from students about how this change is affecting their lives. As we implement this law, we will continue our Administration’s comprehensive work to protect our kids’ mental health, support parents, and hold Big Tech accountable for the harmful content and addictive features they push on our children.”
Under the law, school districts have flexibility in determining how to enforce the restrictions. Options include locked cellphone pouches, lockers, classroom storage or requiring students to keep devices turned off and stored in their belongings.
At Cherry Hill High School East, students are required to keep their devices turned off and out of sight throughout the school day.
According to the governor’s office, Cherry Hill Public Schools uses a tiered approach when students violate the policy, emphasizing student responsibility and positive decision-making. Depending on the circumstances, students may be required to place their devices in a phone locker for the remainder of the school day.
New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Lily Laux said schools across the state have reported positive changes since implementing the restrictions.
“The bell-to-bell cell phone policies are helping schools create the kind of school climate where students can focus on learning, build relationships with their peers, and engage more fully with their teachers,” said Dr. Lily Laux, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education. “From what we’re hearing across the state, schools are seeing positive results. After an initial adjustment period, educators and administrators tell us that classrooms are more focused, students are more engaged, and disruptions tied to social media have declined. They’re also reporting fewer distractions during class, and a more vibrant atmosphere in the hallways and lunchrooms. While no single policy is a cure-all, these new policies are helping schools create better conditions for teaching and learning. That’s a meaningful step toward giving students the educational experience they deserve.”
Cherry Hill Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kwame Morton said the district has observed changes in student engagement and interactions since the restrictions took effect.
“This is my 31st year in public education, and I can tell you that over the last decade, few things have changed the experience of schools as dramatically as the smartphone. Teachers have told us for years that student attention, focus, and connection were slipping away. We have seen the rise in anxiety. Principals have watched conflicts that begin online spill into their schools. Parents and students alike are worried about what social media is doing to sleep, to physical activity, and to attention spans. And as a father of ten children, I have seen it in my own household,” said Dr. Kwame Morton, Superintendent of Cherry Hill Public Schools. “Since the bell-to-bell restrictions took effect, our staff and students have reported greater student engagement and more face-to-face conversation among students. Our teachers no longer have to compete with a device for their students’ attention, and they can create more engaging classrooms. I thank Governor Sherrill for her leadership in improving our children’s mental health.”
Students also shared their experiences with the governor, including Cherry Hill High School East junior Giovannina Viglietta, who said the restrictions have helped her stay focused and reduced the pressure to constantly check her phone.
“As a junior, I have experienced two years at Cherry Hill East when phones were permitted throughout the school day, and in just two months, I have witnessed positive changes under the new bell-to-bell cell phone policy. In previous years, I would often find myself distracted by checking messages or updates on my phone while trying to complete classwork,” said Giovannina Viglietta, junior at Cherry Hill High School East. “However this year, without my phone constantly competing for my attention, I have noticed that I am much more productive throughout the school day. This has also helped to reduce the overall stress I feel as well. Without the pressure to constantly check messages or keep up with social media, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I can be more focused in classes.”
Jamie Marchese, Cherry Hill Zone PTA chair, also expressed support for the policy.
“New Jersey’s bell-to-bell cell phone policy gives our children something increasingly rare: a break from the pressure to always be connected. By removing digital distractions during the school day, we’re making room for real conversations, deeper friendships, and meaningful connections that might otherwise be lost to a screen,” said Jamie Marchese Cherry Hill Zone PTA Chair. “As a parent, I’m incredibly grateful to our state leaders for championing this important change and creating an environment where our children can truly thrive.”
The school cellphone restrictions are part of Sherrill’s broader Kids’ Online Safety Agenda, which the administration says is intended to address children’s mental health and online safety.
On her first day in office, Sherrill established the Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and Awareness within the New Jersey Department of Health to coordinate efforts across state government related to children’s online safety.
In August, the governor signed three bills addressing children’s online privacy, social media use and online safety.
The legislation included the New Jersey Age-Appropriate Design Code, which limits the collection and retention of children’s data by technology companies, establishes safeguards for interactions between minors and adults, and requires platforms to use the highest privacy settings by default for children.
The law also restricts certain platform features designed to encourage prolonged engagement and established a Social Media Research Center to independently study social media’s effects, addictive features and emerging risks to children.
Earlier this week, Sherrill announced that Rutgers University had been selected through a competitive grant process by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to host the state’s Social Media Research Center.
According to the governor’s office, the center will be the first of its kind in the nation, and work is expected to begin immediately.
