Cell Phone Ban In Toms River Schools: See The Rules And Penalties

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Like students all across New Jersey, students in the Toms River Regional School District will not be permitted to use their smartphones or other smart devices during the school day in the 2026-27 school year.

Those who violate the policy will face stiff consequences, including in-school suspension for a third offense.

The Board of Education approved the policy — a policy that is required by state law for public school districts throughout the state — at Wednesday's school board meeting.

Under the policy, which was approved unanimously, students are not permitted to use "internet-enabled devices" — including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and smart glasses on school grounds during the school day.

Beyond that, the rules for when and where the devices can be used during the school day differ for Toms River Regional students by grade.

The policy makes exceptions for students who use internet-enabled devices as part of their individualized education plan (IEP) or as part of a 504 plan; to monitor a student's health condition (with documentation from a health care professional that the device is necessary); for translation services, or for a student who is routinely responsible for the care or well-being of a family member, according to the policy. There are some other limited exceptions as well.

"In the event of a family emergency or for non-emergency communication, families shall contact the school's main office directly rather than reaching out to students during the school day," the policy says. "District staff will then follow local notification procedures to ensure the student receives the information in a timely and appropriate manner."

The policy breaks down the rules by age group. (You can read the policy here.)

For kindergarten through fifth grade, students are expected to keep their devices in their bag or backpack while they are on the bus to and from school, and store it in their backpack, locker or other bag while they are in school.

They also are not permitted to use them on the school bus to and from school, during before- or after-school activities, or at school-sponsored events outside the school day, on or off school grounds.

Children found violating the policy will have their devices taken away from them. Second offenses and beyond will require the parent to pick up the device from the school.

The first violation will result in a warning. The second violation will result in a lunch detention, and on the third violation, the child will receive a one-day suspension "as deemed appropriate by the principal."

A fourth violation will result in a mandatory meeting with the child's parents, a counselor referral, and a one- to three-day suspension, according to the policy.

For sixth- through eighth-graders, the rules are slightly less restrictive. Smartphones and other internet-enabled devices can be used on the bus to and from school, and on school grounds before school starts for the day and after the school day ends, and during school-sponsored events outside of the school day.

They are not permitted to be used during school-sponsored events off school grounds during the school day.

Violations of the policy result in the device being confiscated, with parents being forced to pick it up on any violation after the first one. Students receive a warning on the first offense but a second violation will result in one day of detention. A third violation results in a day of in-school suspension (described as AEP, alternate education placement) and fourth and beyond is three days of in-school suspension, counselor referral, parent meeting and possible loss of extracurricular activities.

For ninth- through 12th-graders, students will be allowed to use their devices on the bus to and from school and on school grounds before the school day starts and after the school day ends.

They also will be able to use them during school-sponsored events outside the school day, such as clubs, sports and other activities.

For school-sponsored events during the school day off school grounds, the policy reads:

"Students in grade nine through grade twelve shall be permitted to use their internet-enabled device during school-sponsored events off school grounds during the school day while under the direct supervision of a school staff member or employee of the Board (e.g. field trip) after determining no reasonable alternative to the use of the internet-enabled device at school-sponsored events off school grounds during the school day exists only with the authorization of the Superintendent or designee. (Bold emphasis added by Patch).

Similar to the middle school students, a first violation results in a warning, a second is a one-day detention, a third is one day of in-school suspension and on the fourth violation and beyond, the punishment is three days of in-school suspension, a mandatory meeting with a counselor and a mandatory meeting for parents with the district, and a possible loss of extracurricular activities.

At the meeting board member Lisa Contessa and board president Ashley Lamb praised the policy and urged parents to read it and get familiar with it before school begins.

"I hope they review it with their children," Contessa said. "We need everyone's support. It's very important. It's very much needed and it's really going to help the kids and the teachers have more focus in the classrooms."

"It's important that families do review that and that we support this policy moving forward, because I think it's actually going to create a very healthy environment for our students," Lamb said.