Bill Text: NJ S3583 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Concerns policies governing student use of cell phones and social media platforms in public schools.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-09-19 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S3583 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S3583-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Concerns policies governing student use of cell phones and social media platforms in public schools.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms and supplementing chapter 36 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Excessive smartphone and social media use among students may lead to increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
b. Researchers have found that smartphone and social media use in schools causes distractions and is associated with poor academic performance among teenagers.
c. The United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory concerning the effects of social media use on youth mental health and is calling for a Congress to add a surgeon general's warning label to social media platforms.
d. Several state legislatures, including California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York have also introduced legislation to address student use of cell phones and social media platforms in schools.
e. To ensure a robust academic environment in the public schools of the State, it is imperative that the Legislature takes action to reduce distractions from cell phones and social media platforms in schools.
2. As used in this act:
"Board of education" means and includes a board of education as defined in N.J.S.18A:18A-2, the board of directors of an educational services commission, and the administrative board of a renaissance school project or any other local education agency.
"Public school" means and includes a school, under college grade, which derives its support entirely or in part from public funds, a school district, a charter school, a renaissance school project, an educational services commission, or any other local education agency.
3. a. A board of education shall adopt a policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms during regular school hours, on a school bus, or during school-sanctioned events where the student is under the direct supervision of a teaching staff member or employee of the board of education.
b. The policy shall, at a minimum:
(1) provide age appropriate and grade-level differentiated policies concerning limiting and prohibiting student use of cell phones and social media platforms;
(2) be consistent with State and federal law, including accommodations provided in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or educational plan established pursuant to the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act," 20 U.S.C. s.1400 et seq., or section 504 of the "Rehabilitation Act of 1973," 29 U.S.C. s.794;
(3) permit student use of cell phones in the case of an emergency or in response to a perceived threat of danger;
(4) permit student use of cell phones upon submission by a parent or guardian of documentation from a health care professional indicating that the use of a cell phone is necessary for the health or well-being of the student; and
(5) permit student use of cell phones upon permission from a teaching staff member or employee of the board of education for educational purposes.
c. The Commissioner of Education shall develop guidelines to assist a public school in adopting a policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms. The guidelines shall, at a minimum:
(1) address smartphones, cell phones with only text or voice, and other relevant devices, including smart watches;
(2) list options that may be utilized by a public school for cell phone storage, including locked pouches and cell phone lockers;
(3) provide guidance for a public school to establish network-based restrictions to prevent student use of, or access to, social media platforms;
(4) detail protocols for communicating the school's policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms to students, their families, and teaching staff members; and
(5) provide guidance for establishing and enforcing disciplinary actions for violations of the school's policy.
d. The guidelines shall promote student learning and well-being. In developing the guidelines, the commissioner shall involve stakeholders to ensure that the guidelines are responsive to the needs of students, parents, and teaching staff members.
4. A public school shall implement network-based restrictions to prevent student use of, or access to, social media platforms on:
a. all school-owned, issued, or managed systems and electronic devices; and
b. the internet or the wireless network utilized by the public school.
5. This act shall take
effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year next
following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill concerns policies governing student use of cell phones and social media platforms in public schools.
Under the bill, the board of a public school is required to adopt a policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media during regular school hours, on a school bus, or during school-sanctioned events where the student is under the direct supervision of a teaching staff member or employee of the board of education. The policy is required to: (1) provide age appropriate and grade-level differentiated policies concerning limiting and prohibiting student use of cell phones and social media platforms; (2) be consistent with a students IEP or educational plan; (3) permit student use of cell phones in the case of an emergency or in response to a perceived threat of danger; (4) permit student use of cell phones upon submission by a parent or guardian of documentation from a health care professional indicating that the use of a cell phone is necessary for the health or well-being of the student; and (5) permit student use of cell phones upon permission from a teaching staff member or employee of the board for educational purposes.
Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop guidelines to assist a public school in adopting a policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms. The guidelines are required to: (1) address smartphones, cell phones with only text or voice, and other relevant devices, including smart watches; (2) list options that may be utilized by a public school for cell phone storage, including locked pouches and cell phone lockers; (3) provide guidance for a public school to establish network-based restrictions to prevent student use of, or access to, social media platforms; (4) detail protocols for communicating the school's policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms to students, their families, and teaching staff members; and (5) provide guidance for establishing and enforcing disciplinary action for violations of the school's policy.
Finally, the bill requires a public school to implement network-based restrictions to prevent student use of, or access to, social media platforms on: all school owned, issued, or managed systems and electronic devices; and the internet or the wireless network utilized by the public school.
