Facebook X (Twitter) Linkedin Before the Murphy administration concluded, several critical pieces of legislation were signed into law. “Bell-to-Bell” Cell Phone Ban: Effective for the 2026-27 school year, this law restricts student phone use during school hours. The policy reflects recommendations from the Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage on Adolescents, of which […]
Category: Library Document
Murphy Signs Legislation Addressing Student Phone Use in Schools
On January 8th, Governor Murphy signed what his administration calls a bell-to-bell cell phone ban into law, which will take effect during the 2026-27 school year. This law requires “guidelines on student use of internet-enabled devices to be developed by the New Jersey Department of Education,” with each public school’s governing body adopting corresponding policies. This […]
The Intersection of Maternal Health and Child Care: Why the Fourth Trimester Matters
Facebook X (Twitter) Linkedin Authored by: Winifred Smith-Jenkins, Ed.D. Director of Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy For more information on this topic, contact Winifred at wsmith-jenkins@acnj.org. While early childhood is often discussed broadly as spanning birth to age five, the first three months after birth, known as the fourth trimester, are among the most fragile, […]
ACNJ’s 10th Annual Breakfast Celebration Recap
Facebook X (Twitter) Linkedin On Thursday, December 4, 2025, ACNJ held its Annual Breakfast Celebration with the theme “Stronger Starts: Advancing Maternal and Infant Health in New Jersey.” Board Chair Jennifer Robinson thanked our generous sponsors and reflected on the event’s origins, sharing how former board chair and fund development committee chair Richard Trenk envisioned […]
Camden Kids Count 2025, A City Profile of Child Well-Being
Facebook X (Twitter) Linkedin Camden Kids Count 2025: Measuring Child Well-Being Amid Economic Pressures, Threats to Federal Safety Net Programs This Camden-specific Kids Count data report, published over two decades from the first one in 2004 by Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), provides a comprehensive snapshot of how children are faring across nearly […]

