Princeton Schools Board Reviews Cell Phone Policy, Student Weighs In

PRINCETON, NJ — The Princeton Public Schools Board of Education heard a first read Monday of a new "bell-to-bell" cell phone ban policy, after a student urged the board to limit the restriction to classroom instruction only.

The proposed policy, Regulation 5516, would prohibit student use of internet-enabled devices — including smartphones, smartwatches and smart glasses — from the first bell of the school day until dismissal, including passing periods and lunch. The district said the policy is required under N.J.S.A. 18A:36-40b, the state law mandating cell phone restrictions in schools, and guidance issued by the New Jersey Department of Education in January.

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Student Eva Larsen told the board that limiting the ban strictly to classrooms — rather than the full school day — would reduce complications around extracurricular scheduling and family communication, while still addressing the core concern of phones disrupting instruction.

"Nothing in the world exists in shades of just black or white. It's all gray," Larsen said, arguing that many students use phones during flex time and lunch to coordinate club meetings and reschedule plans, and that a full-day ban would generate unnecessary enforcement costs and student pushback.

Board member Dafna Kendall responded that the policy was crafted to comply with state law, and encouraged Larsen to raise her concerns with the governor's office and state legislators. "That will be our policy," Kendall said.

Superintendent Mike LaSusa added that the law directs the state Department of Education to issue implementation guidance, which the department released roughly a week earlier along with an FAQ defining "bell-to-bell" as running from the first morning bell to the final dismissal bell — explicitly including passing time and the district's "Tiger Time" period.

"We have no latitude to change that definition," LaSusa said.

The policy does carve out exceptions, permitting device use for students with documented IEP or 504 plan accommodations, health conditions requiring monitoring, translation needs, family caregiving responsibilities, emergencies, or when device use is otherwise required by law.

Since this was a first read, the policy is expected to return to the board for a second read and formal vote at a future meeting.

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