New Jersey Assembly Bill A4855

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 9/23/24
• Refer: 9/23/24

Caption

Concerns policies governing student use of cell phones and social media platforms in schools.

Impact

The bill outlines a framework that must be followed by school districts to ensure uniformity across various educational institutions in New Jersey. It emphasizes the need for policies to be age-appropriate, provide fair emergency usage guidelines, and to align with state and federal laws, including those pertaining to special education. This attempt at standardization aims to reduce confusion and inconsistency in how technology is managed in schools, which can often vary significantly from one district to another.

Summary

Assembly Bill A4855 is a legislative proposal aimed at governing the use of cell phones and social media platforms by students in New Jersey schools. This bill mandates the Commissioner of Education to create a comprehensive policy applicable to students from kindergarten to grade 12. The policy is to be developed within 90 days of enactment and is intended to guide schools in creating their own policies regarding the use of mobile devices and social media during school hours, on school buses, and during school-sanctioned events. The goal of the bill is to enhance student learning and safety while acknowledging the reality of technology in students' lives.

Contention

However, the bill may face contention regarding the balance between regulating technology use and allowing students the freedom to utilize their devices for educational purposes. Critics could argue that overly stringent policies may limit students' abilities to use technology constructively during school. There are also concerns around the implications for school culture and parental rights, especially regarding exemptions and the criteria that schools must meet to create their own stricter policies. How schools communicate and enforce these policies will also be critical to their success and acceptance within communities.