New Middletown policy bars students from using cell phones during any instructional time

MIDDLETOWN — A new school policy will make Middletown students turn off and put away their cell phones when school starts next week.

The Middletown Board of Education's new "Away for the Day" cellphone policy goes into affect with the new school year, darkening the screens of student cellphones, smart watches and other mobile devices during any instructional time.

"We all (Middletown teachers and administrators) were cognizant -- I think most people are, at this point -- that cellphones have impacted students' focus and attention when they are present in the learning environment," Superintendent Jessica Alfone said.

High school students will be required to turn off their phones during classes, gym and assemblies. Using phones in locker rooms or bathrooms is also prohibited, but Alfone said high schoolers may use phones during lunch or in hallways between classes.

Middle school and elementary students have more strict limits on their cell phones, which must be turned off and left in a bookbag or locker for the day. They are not allowed to use their phones in hallways or the cafeteria.

These younger students may turn on their phones at the end of the day to communicate about transportation. They must ask permission from a teacher or staff member to use their phone during the school day to communicate with a parent or guardian, and will do so under supervision, according to the new policy.

"Could it be hard for them in the beginning? Sure, absolutely," said Alfone. "The high school probably will be the greatest challenge, because they have access to their phones right now… in a pretty unlimited way, especially during the summer months. So there will be some habits that we have to break."

The new policy aims to limit distractions during times the students should be focused on learning, as well as to curb opportunities for phones to be used for bullying and other behavior that violates the district's code of conduct.

A recent Pew Research Center poll found that 72% of high school teachers say their students are distracted by cell phones and that it is a "major problem" in U.S. schools.

While eight out of 10 of those teachers reported that their schools had cell phone policies in place, 60% of high school teachers and 30% of middle school teachers said the policies were difficult to enforce, according to the Pew poll.

In Middletown, students who do not follow the new policy risk discipline, having the device confiscated, and being barred from bringing their cell phones to school for a particular number of days.

Alfone said the district policy seeks to balance concerns from parents who have different viewpoints about how and when phones should be used within schools. Some parents worry about the impacts of cyberbullying and educational distraction, while other parents want to track their children's location and have a line of communication available in an emergency.

"I truly believe that this approach has really… eased parents' concerns on both sides of this (issue)," said Alfone. "You have some opinions that… cell phones should be a… total no-go in a school. And then you have some parents that believe that it's an essential part of safety."

In 2022, 76% of public schools in the United States had policies that banned or limited non-academic use of cell phones in schools, according to the Institute of Education Sciences .

NJ DOE issues guidance on cell phones

Across the country, politicians are stepping in on the issue. In July, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul launched a listening tour focused on the issue and considered a statewide ban on phones in schools, while Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order establishing "phone-free education" in the state's K-12 schools. Officials in Pennsylvania, Arizona and California, among other states, are taking similar measures.

On Wednesday, the New Jersey Department of Education released guidance to school leaders, urging them to establish flexible cell phone policies for students, noting that there are some instances where cell phones can enhance the learning experience.

The department also reported that inappropriate and excessive cell phone use is distracting students, likely contributing to mental health problems, and as one Rutgers University study found, leading to lower retention of classroom material and poorer grades.

However, certain students use cell phones for medical reasons or to access specific software related to special educational needs, the state department said in its letter urging school leaders to be flexible in their policies. School leaders were also asked to weigh whether cellphone use should be allowed during a possible emergency.

Alfone, Middletown's superintendent, said her district's new policy is more of a middle-of-the-road approach, rather than an outright ban.

"We want to reprioritize instructional time and prevent distractions from student learning," she said. "In partnership with parents, we (also) want to educate our children on responsible cell phone and technology usage. ... I do believe that one of our responsibilities is to help them learn to manage that, navigate that, and use those technologies responsibly."

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 16 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: New Middletown policy bars students from using cell phones during any instructional time