The New Jersey Department of Education has released new guidance for schools on internet-enabled devices.
The NJ DOE announced that it is banning devices “to promote academic engagement, limit distractions, and support the well-being of students….”
These new guidelines will lead to a policy change next school year at Del Val, as the use of any student-owned internet-enabled device will be banned from use throughout the entire school day, including lunch and study halls.
Despite personal devices being banned, school-issued devices will be allowed for use.
“School-issued devices are okay,” Del Val Superintendent Scott McKinney said. “…I’ve never seen smart glasses in real life, but smart glasses, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, any of those things, would count, but school-issued equipment is fine.”
Del Val has yet to fully develop a new and updated policy to replace the current one, however, the school will need to implement a new policy by the 2026-27 school year.
“So, we will, as an administrative team, come together, so that’s myself and Ms. O’Brien, and then Mr. Kays and Dr. Gilbert, and all the supervisors, and we’ll all work together on ideas and proposals,” McKinney said. “Then it’s my job to share that with the board, because ultimately it is a policy and the board has to adopt the policy.”
McKinney also hopes to get student input on the policy in the spring.
There has also been a discussion on how the school will prevent the use of devices throughout the school day; however, no definitive decision has been made yet.
Exceptions to the rule will be made for special circumstances like medical reasons, IEPs and more.
“In today’s increasingly connected world, cell phones and other internet-enabled devices are integral to how students communicate, access information, and engage with the broader world,” the NJ DOE said. “However, the unregulated use of these devices during the school day can result in lower academic performance, harm to emotional well-being, and deterioration of a positive school climate.”
