Live 2026-27 School Year Data and Opinion on Student Personal Internet Enabled Device Ban by a student from West Windsor Plainsboro High School North after legislation (P.L.2025, c.195), and district policy 5516

I am a Sophomore (Class of 2029) from West Windsor Plainsboro High School North, based on my data collection and opinion writing, here is what is happening right now for the first 2 months, especially in unstructured times, modified schedules, and more. For the first year of my freshman year when the student personal internet enabled device was so friendly and use was permitted, I am giving my data to what had changed in many ways.

I found out that the NJDOE is allowed to give grade differentiated rules and age appropriate guidelines instead of a one size fits all ban according to the lawmakers and their team, for future years they can make lunch, and all unstructured times customized, and to prove related things to it, here is my data for first 1.5 to 2 months of the 2026-27 school year. According to njphoneban.com source, unstructured time ban is documented and NJDOE gets to define bell to bell, which means unstructured time policies are not statutory for following years.

In class time, the focus has been maximized and distractions have been minimized which is fantastic, only when few to medium few, or somewhat people violate the classroom policy, which can be given consequences individually. This ban is good for the classroom as it reduces social media distractions, but for unstructured times, I find it different…

During lunch periods, seniors have open campus privileges where they walk, and stand in the line with their cellphones on their hand, which also applies for study hall late arrival or early dismissal senior privileges, it leaves the gray area everywhere causing logistical nightmares for people who care about rules easily, and loss of autonomy. This is not only the problem, but it also affects the modified schedules making all gray zones, for example a pep rally schedule, or field trip schedules, it causes gray areas for people who care about rules. Not only that, on October 9, 2026, based on my observations I saw cellphone uses that teachers permitted for seniors taking memory pictures, etc, because most probably thought that the modified schedule last bell was 1:45 PM.

In Lunch, Study Hall, Sub Study, and Passing Periods, I see people wearing AirPods to decompress, stream music, check class schedules, text parents, and do more stuff that is age appropriate in my opinion but it just violates the policy. In the 2025-26 school year, when the law was not active, this was just right for us High Schoolers getting autonomy for unstructured times rather than the blanket ban, because I had my phone out in unstructured times, it has benefited my friends and I who follow all rules and guidelines in a very good way, until this state law going in effect on the 2026-27 school year. In my opinion there should be a ban limited to classrooms with a little more strict educational use only, because the purpose for this law was to remove social media distractions, and maximize student well being.

What happened in 2025-26 sub study in the theater when all the seniors went to the Disney trip? This is a good question for 2025-26 Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen to be asked, because we all had a load of hard work in a dark theater in West Windsor Plainsboro High School North, and getting the break and privilege for cellphones, etc was a best reward for us at the end, listening to music, and more, knowing the auditorium was super massively crowded on the week of Class of 2026 disney trip, this managed my overload, etc, especially when I had autonomy there. This even included the same in regular day lunch, study hall, etc when we had autonomy, the poor hard working students earned all of the privileges and now they can't because of this New Jersey state law which is kind of a problem. Autonomy in my opinion is a much safer and fair approach over high surveillance and unnecessary policing for cellphones, to avoid infractions. Even some of the staff think classroom improvements are acheived but lunch should allow them because think about seniors that do open campus, like most seniors would go out just to use phones if they are seniors, according to one of my teacher in a class as well.

Another teacher thinks lunch should allow while passing periods should not.

Input from my two Junior (Class of 2028) friends…

1. Christian Brooks ‘28 - “Hi everyone I just wanted to let you know that for the last 2 years in High School I used my phone and I had my phone in my pocket and I would text my Mom if I would need anything and if / needed my Mom help with anything. I would use my phone on a break, during lunch, and during Study Hall. Now that I can't have my phone with me in my pocket I get paranoid, anxious, and sometimes I feel like I don't have my phone at all even though it is in my backpack but l am used to having my phone in my pocket. This phone ban in New Jersey isn't good for us students at all. We need our phones just in case if any emergencies happen and we need our phones during if we take a break, during lunch, and during Study Hall again. We all don't like having a phone ban in school to be honest. I just want New Jersey to not phone at all schools in New Jersey again.” Christian also has been having worst anxieties, especially when he lost his tools, and this especially is for social anxieties.
2. Brogan Pool ‘28 - “I think that rules should be a bit balanced compared to the blanket bans, although I can figure it out, it kinda doesn't make sense to do a one size fits all approach.” His speech was similar to this. Brogan also told my friends and I that this ban is making classtime good, but it just makes scenarios more worst than good during unstructured times.

Not only that, this one size fits all approach doesn't cause any well being, but it makes us rule followers more punished for our innocent behavior, and we all have to suffer watching the people bypassing the rules, this rigid bell to bell ban makes us rule followers punished, and makes the people who don't really care rewarded.

I understand a basic approach for this would likely be a storage that has schools collect all the personal internet enabled devices of students for school hours, but for the West Windsor Plainsboro High Schools that will be an extra punishment for us suffering, and more. Not only that, but it also will cause logistics traffic nightmares, more gray zones, anxieties, etc. I think in this case, the NJDOE should update guidelines for how there should be a classroom managed storage limiting to classes only unless granted explicit serious educational use by teachers, and the guidelines are clear. Also, if people bypass rules, making the honor system the stricter system would make things just worse, and I think the autonomy is better than the phone policing, teaching self-regulation for personal tech, and management before adulthood, knowing the NJDOE is allowed to change guidelines per real world data for following years.

My opinion on storage...

Inaccessible Storage at the entrance:
Causes unnecessary friction, waste of time, traffic jam, high surveillance, gets phones lost easily, etc. Also adds more unneccesary infractions for fine, suspension, etc, if the lockable pouch breaks, according to other schools in this New Jersey state, theft risk of devices, mix ups of devices, etc, especially in the high schools. Even if it is not Yondr Pouch and another inaccessible storage, what happens is that it causes traffic, more infractions (e.g. when people lie they don't have a phone).

Accessible Storage in your posession: Causes more sneaky use, more infractions, high policing, unfairness for rule followers, etc. Students who think they can get away, in unstructured times, such as lunch, study hall, passing time, and sub study hall, I see people using cellphones to stream music, check schedules, communicate with family, etc.

Hybrid Model of Ban:
Just right, because the purpose for this law was mainly to reduce classroom distractions, and respects the student's autonomy outside of class, because lunch, and passing periods with all unstructured are your downtimes, and is age appropriate. Classroom storage only is appropriate in my opinion. This also teaches students self regulation, how to use devices, teach appropriate timings for use, etc. This makes sense, because classrooms are inappropriate places to use sometimes, and mostly, while your own time is appropriate to use.

The thing is that if the policy becomes stricter, or inaccessible storage it just increases infractions, and unnecessarily punishes an innocent student that uses their cellphone responsibly, I think next year the NJDOE should re-vise the guidelines and change it to the age appropriate differenced guidelines, because this is what the legislation encouraged anyways. Inaccessible storage can also damage the student's phone, make it lost, and more unsafe things to happen. 

We High Schoolers already know how to socialize face to face, and we need to now be taught self-regulation on tech, based on what I compare the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school year.

What happened with the Bring Your Own Device Policy in 2025-26 School Year?

Classrooms: Distractions, disruption of learning, taking for granted, etc. This ban is good for classrooms.

Unstructured times including Study Hall and Sub Study: Most students were responsible with use, and didn't violate policy, the people who violate rules individually should have consequences, because now it causes infractions that are unnecessary for an innocent person use of cellphones or smartphones, the unstructured time ban in my opinion changed with more policing and infractions only. There haven't been too much consequences yet, but the infraction list on the handbook gets bigger for small reason.

However I saw phones getting confiscated
First Day of School: I saw two phones confiscated, just for simple lunch use.
Week of 10/11/26: There were saw 5 or probably some more phones confiscated, for simple lunch use, according to Brogan Pool (2028), because I was facing the opposite side of lunch table while Brogan faced the side where he saw 5 or more confiscated, and I marginally saw that glimpse. Brogan Pool shockingly said, "Are these 5 phones being confiscated?" 

Sub Study 11-3-26: 34 according to my watch but probably more Student Personal Internet Enabled Devices were used, for things such as streaming music, etc, this is another reason why NJDOE should change unstructured times to permit in High Schools, so it counts as normal behavior compared to a violation. There were no confiscations, this ban is not good for unstructured times, but it makes things more worst, which specifically is not fair for the students who follow rules, because we are the ones who don't get autonomy, while most do. Also, I do understand again that the solution will be inaccessible storage, but that makes things just more lack of age appropriate guidelines, and the reason is because, High School is preparation for college, not for surveillance only, the commissioner of NJDOE can change guidelines to make them age appropriate according to the statutory text, because for unstructured times, it is an administrative guidance. If we get inaccessible storage, what else happens that we would just get another category of infractions, if that breaks according to other schools and districts, this is exactly why the Hybrid Model of the ban works, to teach the High Schoolers when and where to use and put their devices away. This also is an exact day when Brogan Pool '28 told us during sub study that the unstructured time ban just makes things worst while classroom and instructional time, it improves.

Historical Policy VS Current Policy

In West Windsor Plainsboro High Schools, originally and historically Use of Personal Internet Enabled Device was very normal, was encouraged, etc. This included but was not limited to: Checking Schedules, Scanning QR Codes, streaming Music, using classroom management, extra tool for work with school issued device, etc. But now, all of this has to be a STRICT INFRACTION, and becomes more punitive instead of teaching how to manage and put away personal internet enabled devices.

Infraction for Use Of Personal Internet Enabled Devices in High Schools

• First Offense: Teacher warning and notification to parents/guardians
• Second Offense: Administrative conference, confiscation with student pick up at the end of the day
• Third Offense: SD, confiscation with parent pick up, contract with main office

Think about this, there are legal 18 year old adults in West Windsor Plainsboro High School North and South, when they are suppose to self manage things, and for adults, parents get a notification, in my opinion this makes no sense to give adults infractions that are unnecessary and works perfect with autonomy. In my opinion, this is also VERY UNREASONABLE, for an 18 year old to get a Parent Notification, because historically before the ban, the students would get into trouble, only they will have to pick up their devices by themselves, instead of straight notification to parents or guardians for the simple use. 18 year olds rarely also will get parent and notifications. Not only that, 18 year olds are recognized as legal adults, and they are preparing for college readiness, etc, this parent or guardian notification can be very not reasonable for a legal adult preparing for real world.

 This is exactly the risk of this, because if they cover lunch, passing periods, study halls, and sub study halls, it causes more infractions, rather they should practice self regulation for tech at the same time of Distraction free environment. This is very inappropriate for NJDOE to not enforce age appropriate guidelines, because the legislation P.L.2025, c.195, says bell to bell, but leaves NJDOE to define it, mainly to reduce classroom distractions, not to strip away the High School Culture of trust. The legislation P.L.2025, c.195 explicitly required to put the age appropriate guidelines, and the full blanket ban with severe consequences just for simple use is very inappropriate for ages 14 to 18.

In New Jersey, "Age of Majority" law (N.J.S.A. 9:17B-3), students are recognized as legal adults, while the school retains right to treat all ages equally, it goes too far for parent notifications, just for that, I understand the right the school retains regardless of ages, at the same time, NJDOE should adapt "Age Appropriate Guidelines".

Seniors (Generally Ages 17 to 18)

• It is their last year of school; it makes no sense to fully do a blanket ban to seniors.
• They have open campus, study hall privileges, field trips, etc. It makes them use while waiting, such areas as gray zones make 0% sense.
• Seniors need their phones for unstructured time, they are taking final memory photos, etc. Including collecting their friend's phone numbers.
• Seniors need more QR codes scanned, a district issued Chromebook is a bulky device.
• Seniors are legal adults once they turn eighteen, parent notification for 18-year-olds is too much for the college preparers. In legal adulthood, there will be no phone confiscations but only loss of jobs, etc. This is why I think the confiscation should happen with misuse only.
• Seniors that didn't face blanket ban, it was just their benefit according to what I saw with the Class of 2026 seniors.

Colors of Zones/Benefits of Each regulating Student Personal Internet Enabled Device Use...

• Green Zones: Just right for lunch, study hall, sub study hall, passing periods, and after/before school at your own risk, this is good, because High Schoolers get taught self-regulation for Personal Internet Enabled Device Use.
• Red Zones: Classrooms; they are just right for it, because it also teaches students when to put it away, and focus on classwork. (This ban for classrooms only are good)
• Yellow Zones: Classrooms; not good, because it just makes students and teachers fight, and causes unnecessary tension on to policing cellular devices.
• Gray Zones: Bad; it causes tension for students who really care about rules, and causes spiking anxieties like it did to me in the Homecoming Pep Ralli on 10/9/26... Examples of gray zones (e.g. Seniors on their way to Open Campus, Study Hall Privileges, Parent Pick Up/Drop Off, Modified Schedules, waiting for field trip transportation)

2025-26 School Year (Which statements happened?)

• CLASS OF 2026... Seniors were wished, "Good Luck in College", which I agree to the class of 2026, but we all underclassmen were told "prepare to lose your phone privileges next year", like it basically feels like seniors are ready which is good, but we all underclassmen, it kind of to me sounded like, "You guys are not mature to have cellphones."
• I agree, Good Luck to Class of 2026 Seniors, but we all underclassmen were told something like "Prepare for the privileges stripped away next year", it can be a heartbreaking or miserable statement.
• I was told by staff - "Be Social, talk face-to-face", "Bye Bye Phones", etc. Students view tech as tools too, not just distractions.
• People were thinking our phones will be in locked pouches as well, it gave me a spiking anxiety when people said it should do this and that.
• Christian Brooks '28 - "High School is going to become Middle School all over again to be honest", "I worked hard with this off and away expectation in TGMS, thanks to this statewide law and policy."

We High Schoolers all know how to socialize, the face-to-face forced environment is taught to K-8 grades to practice basic digital detox first, and in 9-12, we know how to manage tech and face to face socialization. Classroom ban I agree is good, it promotes no cellphone arguments with teachers, but with lunch, and study hall, it does go too far for autonomy, especially when it comes to banning wireless noise cancelling headphones.
In Unstructured times, especially sub-study, I see students using personal laptops by putting them right behind their chromebooks, and getting away, this is impractical, and the old historical policy should come back if the guidelines change in the following year, as more infraction categories happen. As well I see cellphones behind computers. The main purpose of the law was for well-being, not for punitive systems.

Not only this, since High School students are upperclassmen, they can get extra penalties for cellphone use, and it becomes an infraction, not just a guideline, originally High Schoolers never had this as an infraction, and it was a normal thing to do, to use cellphones, High Schoolers now can get into more trouble, just for using their tools, due to P.L.2025, c.195 legislation and policy 5516. It takes more autonomy away and adds another category of disciplinary actions and infractions.

There also can be standard students that can be nervous, having the familiar screen at school during unstructured times makes no sense for NJDOE to define bell to bell, especially when the law encouraged age-appropriate guidelines.

Why does the "One Size Fits All" approach not benifit?

This is a hypothetical and possible true scenario, that the young kids probably are teasing their elders how they get treated the same like an Elementary Schooler, this isn't teasing to what happened to me, but an 8 year old girl told me that, "It is not allowed... anymore", this is exactly why NJDOE should change guidelines, and the reason is, because we don't need the whole state of New Jersey to know the school policies, just because of classroom distractions. I am not fully anti-ban, because I think "Only Non Academic" use should be banned in regular core classes for high schoolers, while I think academic use should be permitted per teacher's guidelines, as the statutory text of (P.L.2025, c.195) targets to limit and prohibit, "Non Academic Use" during the school hours.

Frictions

Christian Brooks mentioned that students from Elementary Schoolbuses also used cellphones, and bypass rules, and a bus driver likely doesn't mind, I honestly think Elementary School students should have device use permitted on a school bus, but put it away then they arrive to school grounds. 

What did I observed in Community Middle School even when the law was not active?

Students were on their cellphones during arrival of the school day, on the bus, school sanctioned events, etc, including Liberty Lake trip too based on the snapchat stories I see from students in West Windsor Plainsboro Community Middle School, I honestly think that Middle School students shall have the ban from first to last bell only.

What do I think for Grade Differented Levels?

• Elementary School Students - Elementary School students shall be permitted to use devices on the school bus, so that way bus drivers don't have to be cellphone polices as they need to focus on safe-driving, but once students arrive to school grounds, they must switch their devices off and securly put it in backpacks or classroom cubbies. This ban includes field trips as well.
• Middle School Students - Middle School students shall be told to power off cellphones during the entire academic day from bell-to-bell, including during lunch, recess, and passing time. Students in Middle School shall be permitted to use devices during extracurriculars, before/after-school hours, in the bus, school-sanctioned events, and field trips.
• High School Students - High School students shall be permitted to, "Bring Their Own Device" to school, this includes but is not limited to cellphones, smartphones, iPads, iPods, electronic tablets, personal laptop, bluetooth headphones, etc. Students shall be permitted to use devices in teacher's discretion strictly for academic purposes only, for example to permit setting a timer for a lab, but prohibiting social media, browsing, etc. Students shall be permitted to use devices in lunch, study hall, passing periods, before/after school, buses, school-sanctioned events, field trips, etc, in their own risk, where non-academic use should be permitted. Anyone who violates rules and regulations should result individually with consequences and confiscations of devices which are age-appropriate.

I am not writing this so that way Board of Education breaks the law, but the statutory text (P.L.2025, c.195), because according to njphoneban.com, the commissioner of NJDOE can change guidelines that are age-appropriate. This also is how it should be in my opinion, it commissioner changes guidelines for future years after the statewide real-world data. The statutory text includes during the school day only for non-academic use concerning and limiting it, but the statutory text doesn't say, "lunch, study hall, or unstructured times." 

What differences I can see between High School North and High School South?

According to "The Pirate's Eye", and the WWP Board Meeting, I heard the students in the South High School are benifitting this Student Personal Internet Enabled Device Ban, and how it is good, causing socializing, face to face, etc, I understand their data, but in High School North, the students who decide to obey the rules find this ban overwhelming, and they honestly think that classroom focus has improved, but it just makes unstructured times worst such as autonomy loss, and more infraction categories, because high school isn't only a place to punish and give harsh style consequences, but should teach self regulation where and when to use and not use it

Friction
There also are and maybe some students who  think that we innocent people should not have our devices, while they can sneak under the table, use social media, stream music, etc. If the data by most students say this ban benifits, helps us face to face, etc, they likely might be distorting the data, because I see more than at least 25 people on their internet enabled devices everyday which causes friction, lucky loopholes, etc, living us behind only. Some people with long hairs or hoods also hide their airpods, especially during unstructured times, just to do things like listen to music, etc. I honestly think that NJDOE should change guidelines to autonomy, so that way the regular historical program of autonomy keeps going and removes a category of infraction. Students also during not class time and gym class, but mainly unstructured times, make trend jokes that they have a documented health plan, and then they are on Social Media just to bypass the rules, based on what I have been seeing. I honestly think and can tell the classroom by average has improved but unstructured times, it doesn't. I really can tell the autonomy given back is much helpful than another category of infraction. 
Now most districts find the solution to do inaccessible storage such as Yondr Pouches, cubbies, etc, but this is not a good solution because it defeats the purpose for the innocent person's self regulation, self-management, teaching where and when to use and not use it, etc. Not only that, it may add another category of infractions, but in other districts which are not West Windsor Plainsboro, students intentionally break Yondr Pouches, put the fake phone to keep access to the real one, etc, not only that, you may ask us such questions like what if our own cellphone breaks, our yondr pouches break, etc? The answer is that high school is a place to teach age appropriate behavior, self-management, and teach softer rather than punitive ways. The main thing is that we don't want accidental mistakes to become major infractions. Small apple watches are also hard to monitor, but watches also count your steps, etc.

Someone may ask, "What if our phone breaks, what if we break the Yondr Pouches by accident?", the answer would be, "Pay up to the school and your parents." People then may ask what is the solution? The obvious solution is, "Teach High School students with distraction free classrooms, where they also learn when to put their cellphones and devices away, and make the school a healthy learning place rather than a high surveillance place." This source (https://www.facebook.com/story...) exactly proves what has happened in one of the district. The website (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/0...) also proves more info about the Yondr Pouch problem. 

P.L. 2025, c. 195, Section 2.b(1)

P.L.2025, c.195, Section 2.b(1) requires the Commissioner of Education to develop age-appropriate and grade-level differentiated guidelines concerning limiting and prohibiting student use of internet-enabled devices in K-12 public schools. For example, it requires the commisioner to not treat the 17 year old senior like a 5 year old kindergartener. This means the NJDOE's commissioner to be honest should do this, for the 2027-28 school year based on what I see during school hours. 

What happens during class time with some students?

In Phys Ed class, I notice some people with long hair wearing their airpods, putting cellphones in pocket, and using it when teacher isn't looking, etc. Not only that, this applies to other classes during downtime too like last 5 minutes before the final dismissal bell rings, I see this happening. I know the solution will be Inaccessible storage, but there are better solutions, such as inaccessible storage like phone hammocks in classrooms, or accessible like backpacks, unless strict educational use permission is granted by the classroom teachers, and this should be the classroom level of consequences, rather than the blanket ban.

Offenses & Infractions in Class

1. First Offense - Teacher Warning
2. Second Offense - Admin Notification & Talk
3. Third Offense - Phone should be handed to the teacher’s desk for the duration of class time

The purpose for this is to make the consequences fair, and not punish innocent people, because the main purpose of this ban is to remove classroom distractions mainly, rather than doing Yondr Pouches and causing another infraction category.

Unfairness of Use

I also would tell staff people how these students are on cellphones, and airpods, I am not doing this to get them in trouble, I tell, because it is not fair for those who always have been using cellphones responsibility and never tasted the freedom for those who were in grades K-8 when law was not ever active. I am not trying to tattle tale just to get them in trouble, it hurts some of my friends and I how this ban only punishes people who deeply follow the rules and care about it. We rule followers in Middle School never got taste of freedom til High School, and then this ban got active, it just affects us rule followers. Then when I tell, some staff yell at me to, "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS", which can be embarrassing as well. There are also nonchalant and sweet students, some bypass the rules, meaning use cellphones, but from them being nonchalant and sweet, since category are new infractions, it converts them to rule bypassers, which I think should not happen, and autonomy privellages in certain zones should be given back.

What does Statutory text (P.L.2025, c.195) say?

The statutory text itself says to provide age appropriate guidelines according to (P.L. 2025, c. 195, Section 2.b(1)), but I can see that first offense is parent notification for 18 year olds, which completely violates the statutory text itself, because this is inappropriate for 18 year olds. Statutory text for other age of majority law (N.J.S.A. 9:17B-3) is also recognized per districts, although school retains rights to treat all students equally regardless of ages, they have a choice to treat High Schoolers differently than Middle Schoolers or Elementary Schoolers. This also requires to promote well-being, but many districts including the Ramsey and Woodbury 11-12 school who helped out with the law, are also demoting student well-being during unstructured times including during lunch.

Kids who rely on tools...

The NJDOE wants to foster a face-to-face environment, but face-to-face environment always happens regardless of the ban or not. For High School students, they know how to talk face to face, some people have social anxieties, use phones for transitions, etc. This blanket ban's purpose is mainly to remove classroom distractions, not tools. This is not a healthy policy for High School students, because not everyone has an accommodation in an IEP or 504, and standard students also rely on tools, while they don't depend on them.

How does this ban impact me?

Last year, I use to use my notes app on my cellphone during study skills class for all hard papers to soft, and you cannot scan on the school chromebook. I also would use my phone for digital assignment so that way I can read on phone and type on chromebook, along with using it as a chromebook shortcut. This law impacts me most, because it feels like a big step backwards with only district 1:1 issued device, I have been telling people, and they tell me, "This is not what Aahwan wants, this is the law", I would tell them, "Ugh, it happens and the freedom stripes away, right when I come", and they ignore it saying, "Well, things happen", I need the NJDOE to change guidelines for 2027-28 school year, because that statutory text says, "The ban must promote well-being", and it is only promoting in class banning, "NON ACADEMIC USE", but I think academic use should be fully permitted per NJDOE.

I am not trying to give a compliant how I dislike the ban, I am giving the real world data that rarely anyone sees, but I observed, because to me going to Sophomore with rigid ban restrictions, it feels like a big step backwards. I am also not writing this data so I can scroll on YouTube during classtime and disrupt, I am also giving data, so that way schools can teach students how to use tech appropriate per grade levels. Las the Bring Your Own Device program has been benifitting, while not during instructional time, but the rigid blanket ban causes more friction, gray areas, etc.

Final Answer - Do Student Personal Internet Enabled Device Benifit, promote healthy well being, etc? Well it depends on which grounds of school.

The answer is mostly no, this affects for strictly educational use in class, lunch blocks, passing period, modified schedules, study hall, sub study, parent pickup, field trip schedules, etc. This ban causes gray areas for people, especially seniors. They get permission from staff in certain areas like a pep rally, I get spike anxities when seeing other people on devices not knowing the rules. In classrooms, "NON-ACADEMIC USE" ban is good, it promotes paying attention, and removes classroom distractions.

It makes no sense for students in High School to be banned from listening to music, communicating with family, checking schedules, calendars, managing classroom, school related assignments, casual use during unstructured times, etc, historically this was normal, and now this has to be an infraction that can cause strict penalties including Saturday Detention. I think the comissioner of the NJDOE should change guidelines according to live data from statewide districts including West Windsor.

West Windsor Plainsboro High School South Opinion (This is an opinion - Only This Part)

This is not a fact for the South High School yet, but in my opinion, it seems very inappropriate for that school to ban too, because a high mall style school can cause more sneaky use, and if the honor system is converted to a strict system, then it will cause more damages whether it is the personal property to lockable pouch according to datas from other neighboring districts.

Is this a fact or an Opinion?

Important Note: This is not only my opinion, whatever I see happening inside West Windsor Plainsboro High School North is a FACT, and this is my real world data on the rigid blanket ban.
I clearly see people everyday on their cellphones and airpods mostly during unstructured times, the reason why they do it is not to disrupt, but mainly to stream music, check schedules, etc. This data proves the comissioner should change guidelines in my opinion, so it practices self-regulation on tech, and teach appropriate times and places where and when a student should use their personal internet enabled devices, rather than adding another category of infraction, and making a punitive system with unnecessary cellphone monitoring.

During lunch, I also see the security aides having to monitor cellphones and airpods everyday, there are much more important things for them to worry about than cellphones, like I honestly feel bad for the security aides in West Windsor Plainsboro High School North having to make phones a big deal too. Security aides in sense have to say something like tapping on tons of students saying, "Take your airpod off", like it makes no sense and is not logical for this to continue to happen for continues academic years, plus you are not being taught a lesson while eating a sandwich, and you know how to socialize as a high school student already, it honestly adds just an extra infraction category.

Definitions of Words

• Should - When I say should, I don't mean that the commissioner is being forced, I recommended her to change guidelines to make them more age-appropriate. In the staturory text (P.L.2025, c.195), P.L. 2025, c. 195, Section 2.b(1) clearly requires age-appropriate guidelines which are grade-level differented, and as of now it is mainly on storage or consequences, but storage doesn't meet that in my opinion, and probably other people's opinion either because they still enforced a blanket ban. When they only do it on storage and penalties for grade levels, for storage, it is literally no difference, like basically it is the same, but just a different location it hides in, and for punitive system, it doesn't help anyone, because that just may add infractions for minor normal use. 

Very Important Note...
As always, there must be approved exceptions for students where specific needs require device use. For example, an accommodation in an IEP, 504, documented health plan, or for translation services. Each of these exceptions must be documented accordingly.

For more info of the law's guidelines look onto this link:
https://njphoneban.com/

Aahwan Mulani 
West Windsor Plainsboro High School North
Class of 2029