By: Richard L. Smith
The first school bells of the new academic year will be ringing across New Jersey around 8 am today, bringing thousands of students back into classrooms as educators confront a national concern that has been developing for years; declining reading performance among American children according to a global study.
As the 2026-27 school year gets underway, the issue is receiving renewed media attention following data showing that reading performance has fallen substantially across the country.
National Assessment of Educational Progress results previously reported by ABC News showed reading scores for both fourth- and eighth-grade students declined again in 2024.
Average scores fell two points from 2022 for both grades, adding to declines recorded during the previous assessment period.
The decline cannot be attributed solely to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research highlighted by ABC News indicates reading performance had already begun weakening before pandemic-era school disruptions, making literacy an issue that educators have been confronting for more than a decade.
As students return this fall, I’ve found that Jersey schools are also making a major change intended to reduce one potential source of classroom distraction.
I’ve reported earlier in the week that beginning with the 2026-27 school year, New Jersey public schools are required to implement bell-to-bell policies restricting students’ use of personal internet-enabled devices throughout the school day.
The rules cover devices including cellphones, tablets and smartwatches, with exceptions for certain medical, educational, safety and other documented needs.
Under guidance issued by the New Jersey Department of Education, personal devices should remain off and stored during the school day. At the same time, schools can continue using district-managed computers and other technology for instruction.
The state says unrestricted use of personal devices during school can contribute to lower academic performance and classroom distractions.
The new policy is designed to increase academic engagement, improve student well-being and create an environment more focused on instruction.
Unfortunately our state, Jersey, are not alone.
New York implemented statewide restrictions on smartphones and other personal internet-enabled devices during the 2025-26 school year.
ABC News reported that educators surveyed after the first year described fewer classroom distractions, increased student engagement and more face-to-face interaction.
Researchers, however, have cautioned that there is not yet enough evidence to conclude that cellphone restrictions alone will produce long-term increases in academic test scores.
That distinction is important as schools address reading.
Cellphone restrictions are one strategy for reducing distractions, but national reading declines predate many of the current school technology policies.
Newark Public Schools has an “off and away” policy that will limit students cell phone use.
Reading achievement is influenced by numerous factors, including instruction, attendance, curriculum, intervention and the amount of time students spend actively reading.
For New Jersey educators returning to classrooms this week, the latest numbers provide another measurable benchmark as schools work to strengthen literacy from the elementary grades through high school.
And while the first day of school traditionally represents a fresh beginning for students, the 2026-27 academic year begins with reading squarely among the educational issues receiving national and statewide attention.
INFO SOURCE:
New Jersey Department of Education — Student Digital Wellness
ABC News — School Cellphone Restrictions and Classroom Impact