Atlantic City High School Students Embrace New Cellphone-Free Policy

ATLANTIC CITY — Atlantic City High School administrators were prepared for a struggle when the school’s new cellphone policy went into effect on the first day of classes.

Instead, they found that students appeared to embrace the change. Without phones competing for their attention, students were more engaged in school and spent more time interacting face-to-face with their friends.

The policy is part of a statewide effort to limit distractions caused by cellphones, smartwatches, earbuds and other personal internet-enabled devices during the school day.

Atlantic City Superintendent of Schools Dr. La’Quetta S. Small said the district’s goal is to create an environment where students can concentrate on learning while developing stronger relationships with their classmates and teachers.

“We understand that cellphones have become an important part of everyday life, but our schools must remain places where teaching, learning and meaningful interaction come first,” Small said. “The response from our students at Atlantic City High School has been encouraging. They are talking with one another, engaging with staff and focusing more closely on the school day. We appreciate the cooperation of our students, families and staff as we work together to create the best possible learning environment.”

Atlantic City High School Principal Dr. Constance Days-Chapman said students understand the expectations and have complied with the policy.

“We communicated the expectations to parents and students through social media, announcements and posts, and at this point, they understand,” Days-Chapman said. “I have met with teachers, and they have not had any issues. I encourage them to enforce the expectations in class. The only way a schoolwide initiative works is if we enforce it schoolwide.”

The change comes after former Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation on Jan. 8, 2026, requiring every New Jersey public school district to adopt a policy restricting students’ nonacademic use of cellphones and other internet-enabled devices. The policies were required to take effect for the 2026-27 school year.

The legislation does not establish an identical policy for every school. Instead, it directed the New Jersey Department of Education to provide guidelines allowing districts to adopt age-appropriate rules that address the needs of their students and communities.

The state guidelines outline several approaches districts may use. These include bell-to-bell policies under which devices are stored for the entire school day; “off and away” policies requiring devices to remain powered off and out of sight; and limited-use policies that permit access during designated periods.

For high school students, the New Jersey Department of Education’s guidance recommends that cellphones, smartwatches and earbuds remain turned off or silenced and stored out of sight during instructional time unless a teacher authorizes their use for an educational purpose.

Atlantic City High School students are already finding ways to adapt.

Senior Javon Lane said he used to scroll on his phone during lunch.

“It’s been heartbreaking,” Lane said. “Now, I will watch football film and prepare for games.”

Other students, including J’Adore Smartel, welcomed the new policy. Smartel said it helps students get to know one another.

“It forces students to engage,” Smartel said. “Online, everybody interacts. People like and comment on each other’s posts, but nobody knows each other in real life. People can like your posts but walk right by you in person and not even speak.”

Health and physical education teacher Domonique Shannon-Beaman, who was assigned to lunch duty, said she noticed a difference immediately.

“I see less scrolling and more socializing,” Shannon-Beaman said. “I even saw a student on his Chromebook playing a math game.”

The first day offered an early glimpse of how removing phones from the center of students’ attention could change the atmosphere inside Atlantic City High School. Rather than the widespread resistance administrators anticipated, students adjusted to the new expectations and turned their attention toward classes, school activities and conversations with the people around them.

District officials will continue communicating the policy to students, families and staff while monitoring its implementation throughout the school year.

“It’s everyone’s responsibility to make sure that, in every area, we enforce the new policy,” Days-Chapman said. “We haven’t had many issues at all with students having their cellphones out.”

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