Some school districts have imposed new restrictions on cell phone use, but for the Princeton Public Schools, the policy remains the same.
This is an existing policy from last year. There has been no change in policy regarding cell phones at Princeton High School, officials said. Students are permitted to have their cell phones with them throughout the full day.
Using a hanging phone bag in the classroom has been an existing practice at PHS. Upon teacher request, the school will provide a hanging shoe bag for students to store their phones in their classrooms.
Princeton Public Schools officials have been following the research regarding cellphones, student achievement and mental health. School district officials in other districts have agreed that cellphones in the classroom are a distraction from learning.
The Princeton Public Schools has not taken steps to officially change policy, but that could happen at some point in the future, officials said. The district is still evaluating its options.
Meanwhile, many school districts in New Jersey have taken steps to limit students’ access to cellphones during the school day – including the nearby Lawrence Township Public Schools.
Lawrence High School students must park their cellphones, earbuds and smartwatches in designated cellphone “parking lots” in the classrooms to minimize distractions.
The Cherry Hill Public Schools has banned cellphones during school hours, with limited exceptions, according to published reports in the Cherry Hill Sun newspaper. The school board adopted the policy earlier this month.
The Bridgewater-Raritan High School in Somerset County enacted a policy that requires the cellphones to be put in a cubby inside the classroom, according to published reports at www.njsba.org.
The Linden Public Schools in Union County adopted a policy that requires students in middle school and high school to lock up their cellphones in a pouch. It can only be unlocked by pressing it against a device at stations scattered throughout the school.
The West Morris Regional High School District in Morris County also requires high school students to put their cellphones in caddies that hang along the wall near the entrance to the classroom.
