Yes. Students may use their phones on school grounds after the regular school day has ended. They may also be used in the morning, prior to the ringing of the first bell of first block.

If the student remains on school grounds, no. The policy remains in effect from the opening class bell through dismissal, regardless of whether the student is inside or outside the building. Phones must remain powered off and stored out of sight during lunch, study hall, passing periods, and all other portions of the school day.

A student who is authorized to leave school grounds for off-campus lunch is no longer on school grounds and may use the phone while off campus. The phone must be powered off and stored again before the student returns to school grounds.

We recognize that this will be a meaningful adjustment for many students. However, the policy is being implemented in response to a new mandatory statewide requirement, not as an isolated district decision. We are communicating the expectations before school begins and will reinforce them with students, families, and staff throughout the opening weeks.

Adjustment is also part of the policy’s purpose. Students have become accustomed to constant access to their phones, but that does not necessarily mean constant access is healthy or beneficial. The goal is to help students become more present in class, more connected to the people around them, and less dependent on notifications and social media throughout the school day. Initial, promptly corrected incidents will be addressed through reminders and redirection rather than immediate formal discipline.

We have a collective goal to assist students in breaking their past habits of phone access and creating new ones.

The State defines the restriction as “bell-to-bell,” expressly including lunch and passing periods. They do not provide individual discretion to public school districts to make alternative allowances.

Beyond that legal requirement, lunch is an important opportunity for students to speak with one another, build relationships, and take a genuine break from screens. Phone activity during lunch can also carry into the classroom through social-media conflicts, recording, photographing, messaging, and other distractions. 

A consistent expectation throughout the day is also clearer and more manageable than rules that repeatedly turn phone access on and off.

Students will need to make plans directly with one another, just as they do for classes, activities, and other scheduled parts of the day. They may pre-plan to meet up at a specific time of the day.  They also have access to email each other via their laptops.

If a lunch location or room assignment changes, the school will communicate that information through staff, announcements, Schoology, district-issued devices, or other appropriate school channels. Students are not expected to depend on personal phones to receive essential school information.

If a student cannot locate another student or needs assistance, a staff member or the main office can help. Families who need to reach a student during the school day should contact the main office, and the message will be delivered promptly.

Removing personal phones does not mean replacing every activity with laptop use. District-issued laptops will continue to be used when technology meaningfully supports instruction, research, collaboration, assessment, or accessibility. Teachers will also continue using discussion, writing, reading, hands-on learning, labs, projects, and other screen-free instructional practices. Our goal is purposeful technology use—not continuous screen use.

All staff will receive clear expectations, guidance, and a common enforcement process. Building administrators will monitor implementation, address inconsistencies, and provide additional guidance when needed. Staff should follow the established progressive process and refer repeated noncompliance to administration rather than engage in a confrontation with a student.

Policy 5516 specifically governs student devices. However, faculty and staff are expected to model responsible and professional phone use. Personal phones should not be used for casual or social purposes while staff members are teaching, supervising students, or otherwise responsible for student safety. Staff may need to use a device for an authorized professional purpose, emergency, health need, or other legitimate responsibility.

Students will be able to access the accounts and applications required for approved testing. SAT and ACT testing uses authorized testing platforms and student testing credentials; it does not require unrestricted access to a personal Gmail or iCloud account. The district will confirm device and application compatibility before any school-administered digital assessment.

Yes. Parents should leave the item at the designated security or main-office location. School personnel will notify the student through the school’s established communication procedures. Parents will no longer be expected to text students during the school day.

Students will continue to have access to their district-issued email accounts on district devices. They may email a parent when appropriate, although email should not be used to recreate continuous texting throughout the day. For an urgent matter, the student should go to the main office, counseling office, health office, or another staff member.

Yes, provided the district’s external-email settings permit delivery. However, students may not see an email immediately and should not be expected to monitor their inbox continuously. Time-sensitive or urgent messages should be directed to the main office.

A student may ask to use an office phone or seek assistance from the main office, health office, counseling office, or another staff member. Parents should call the school’s main office, and staff will ensure that an urgent message reaches the student promptly. Phones may also be accessed during a genuine emergency under staff direction.

Students will be able to access their schedules through the district’s student-information system on their school-issued laptops. Schools may also provide printed schedules and post the daily rotation in visible locations. Students should become familiar with their schedules, but support will be available throughout the day when they need assistance.

Students may use district email for an appropriate school-related need, but email should not become a substitute for personal texting. If a student needs to reach a sibling urgently, the main office or another staff member can assist.

Yes. Students will receive direct instruction regarding the policy, including where devices must be stored, when they may be used, available exceptions, and the progressive response to violations. Expectations will be reviewed during student orientations and opening-of-school meetings and reinforced throughout the year.

The district recognizes that families also need clear information about our Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity policies. We anticipate offering a similar informational opportunity addressing appropriate and prohibited AI use, student responsibility, academic integrity, and how AI may be used instructionally.

No. Phones will not routinely be collected at the entrance. Before the opening bell, students must power off their devices and store them out of sight in a backpack, bag, purse, locker, or another approved location. A phone is secured by administration only after the progressive response outlined in the regulation, when a student repeatedly violates the policy, refuses to comply, or when an immediate safety or serious disciplinary concern requires administrative involvement.

Families may wish to establish device-free meals, homework periods, family activities, and a consistent overnight charging location outside the bedroom. Turning off nonessential notifications and setting age-appropriate limits for entertainment and social-media use can also help. The most useful plan is one that is clear, consistent, and modeled by adults as well as children.

The district recognizes that students may attempt to shift from phones to games or other non-instructional content. District devices and networks use filtering, monitoring, and device-management controls to restrict inappropriate or unauthorized sites and applications. Teachers will also continue supervising laptop use and directing students to close unrelated content. Technology restrictions will be reviewed and adjusted as new patterns emerge.

Exceptions will be implemented as privately and respectfully as possible. Relevant staff will be notified through a “phone” icon on the student’s information page on Genesis (our student data system), where an explanation of the approved exception will be included. We will also work mutually with students/parents to determine where and when the approved phone use will take place.

Students will not be required to explain their medical, disability-related, translation, caregiving, or other documented needs to classmates. Staff will reinforce that students should not question or judge another student’s approved accommodation.

No. An IEP does not automatically provide access to a personal phone. An exception applies only when phone use is specifically required by the student’s IEP, 504 Plan, health plan, or another approved accommodation. Therefore, a student with an IEP who does not need phone access will remain subject to the same phone-free expectations as other students.

The accommodation request form is now available to download here.  Parents may contact their child’s principal, case manager, or school counselor, for assistance with form completion. Supporting documentation may be required depending on the reason for the request.

Students have access to district-approved AI tools, which may be used only when authorized by a teacher and in accordance with the assignment, Policy 2365, and the Academic Integrity requirements. 

Access to an AI tool does not mean it may be used for every assignment. Teachers will clearly explain when AI is permitted, how it may be used, and whether its use must be disclosed or cited.

In accordance with the law, personal internet-enabled music devices and connected accessories may not be used during the school day. Headphones and earbuds may be used with district-issued technology only when authorized by a staff member or when included in an approved accommodation. A non-internet-enabled device may be used only under the direct supervision and authorization of a staff member.

No. Remotely activated paging devices are prohibited on school property under New Jersey law, specifically N.J.S.A. 2C:33-19. 

Under the law, a student may not knowingly bring or possess a remotely activated paging device on school property at any time—even when school is not in session—unless the student has expressed written permission from the Board of Education, its delegated authority, or the principal.

The recorded webinar has be posted.  It's available here.

• From the opening bell of Block 1 through dismissal, personal phones, smartwatches, earbuds, and other personal internet-enabled devices must be powered off and stored out of sight. 
• This includes classes, passing periods, lunch, study hall, bathroom visits, and other parts of the school day. 
• Devices are not routinely collected upon arrival.
• Initial incidents are addressed through reminders and redirection, while repeated violations are referred to administration and may result in the device being secured for the remainder of the day. 
• Exceptions are available for emergencies and approved medical, disability-related, translation, caregiving, legal, or other documented needs. These must be requested via the form located on our website (on/about 8/31/26)