Holmdel, NJ Parent Coalition

HOLMDEL
UNPLUGGED

Less Screen. More Learning. Healthier Kids.

Calling on Holmdel Township School District to adopt age-appropriate screen time guidelines across all four schools.

✍️ Sign the Petition Learn More
8.5 hrs
average teen screen time per day
3×
rise in teen girl depression since 2012
40%
of countries now ban phones in schools
90%
of US teachers support phone bans

The Problem

What Is Happening to Our Kids

The numbers are alarming — and Holmdel children are not immune. This is not a parenting failure. It is a structural problem that requires a school-level solution.

8.5 hrs
Average daily screen time for American teenagers
3×
Rise in teen girl depression and anxiety since 2012 — when smartphones became widespread
67%
NJ students who use their phones in bed after lights out
41%
NJ students sleeping fewer than 7 hours on school nights
6.4%
Test score improvement when schools removed phones — London School of Economics study
14.2%
Improvement for low-achieving students after phone bans — effectively closing the achievement gap
"The rise of the smartphone has caused a great rewiring of childhood. We are living through a mental health crisis, and the cause is not a mystery."
— Jonathan Haidt, The Anxious Generation (2024) | Social Psychologist, NYU Stern School of Business

The Science

What the Research Shows

This is not opinion. The evidence base is deep, consistent, and growing across dozens of peer-reviewed studies and government reports.

London School of Economics (2015)
Study of 91 schools: phone bans improved test scores by 6.4% overall and 14.2% for low-achieving students — a free, immediate way to reduce the achievement gap.
NIH — 11,000 children (2018)
Screen time causes measurable cortex thinning in the brain's attention and decision-making center in children as young as 9.
MIT Ward et al. (2017)
Students performed a full letter grade higher on assessments when phones were fully put away — not just silenced.
UNESCO Global Report (2023)
Recommends banning smartphones in schools worldwide, citing academic performance, mental health, and social development evidence.
JAMA Pediatrics (2019)
Each additional hour of screen time is linked to less self-control, more distractibility, and lower academic performance.
National Sleep Foundation
Screens before bed reduce children's sleep by 30–60 minutes per night — directly impacting memory, mood, and classroom readiness.
US Surgeon General (2023)
Issued an advisory stating social media carries a "profound risk of harm" to children's mental health.

Success Stories

It's Working Everywhere It's Been Tried

From France to Finland to right here in Monmouth County — communities that have acted are seeing real results.

📍
Red Bank, NJ — Monmouth County
Cellphone hotel district-wide policy — Active
Positive educator feedback on engagement and reduced stress. Right here in our county. This is Holmdel's nearest proof point.
🇫🇷
France
National ban — all schools, ages 3–18 (2018, expanded 2024)
Pioneer of national phone bans. Strong teacher and parent support. Improved classroom focus nationwide.
🇬🇧
United Kingdom (England)
98% of schools had bans by 2012; national guidance issued 2024
97% of surveyed teachers reported reduced distraction. Students more active at break; higher club attendance.
🇫🇮
Finland
National law banning phones — July 2023
The world's top-ranked education system reversed its digital-first policy — a powerful signal for the entire global education community.
🇳🇱
Netherlands
National mandate — all secondary schools (January 2024)
Reduced social comparison behavior. Improved classroom climate reported by educators.
🏫
Los Angeles Unified
Full phone + social media ban — 600,000 students (2024–25)
The 2nd-largest US school district voted 5–2 to implement a full school-day ban — proving it can be done at scale.

Our Asks

What We're Asking For

We are not asking the district to eliminate technology. We are asking for age-appropriate, research-backed limits — and we are happy to start with a pilot.

Village School

Pre-K – Grade 3
  • Max 45 minutes/day of screen time
  • No personal devices on campus
  • Protect outdoor play and physical books

Indian Hill Elementary

Grades 4–6
  • No personal devices during instruction
  • 30-minute maximum per subject period
  • Non-screen homework options available

William R. Satz School

Grades 7–8
  • Phone-free school day
  • Teacher-directed device use only
  • Device-free lunch period

Holmdel High School

Grades 9–12
  • Phones off desks during class
  • Reduced screen-based assignments
  • Digital Wellness curriculum

We support pilots, phased rollouts, and working with the district at every step.
We are here to collaborate — not to confront.

Take Action

Sign the Petition

Add your name to our formal request to the Holmdel Township Board of Education. Every signature counts.

—
Holmdel parents have signed
Goal: 1,000 signatures
1
Fill in your name & email
2
Select your child's school
3
Click Sign & you're done!

Questions? Email us: [email protected]

Please share this page with every Holmdel parent you know. Numbers change minds.

Resources

Download & Share

All campaign materials are free to download, print, and share. Use them at school events, PTA meetings, or in your neighborhood.

📄
Flyers
Community flyer + school-specific flyers for Village, Indian Hill, Satz, and Holmdel High. Print and post.
Download Flyers →
📊
PTA Presentation
8-slide PowerPoint deck covering the problem, the science, success stories, and our specific asks.
Download Slide Deck →
🔬
Research & Evidence
Full global case studies report, research one-pager, and detailed source documentation for every claim we make.
Download Research →
📋
Policy Proposal & Letters
Formal policy proposal to the Board of Education and individual letters to each school principal.
Download Policy Docs →
✍️
Print Petition
Printable petition sheet with 18 signature lines. Bring it to school pickup, sports events, or neighborhood gatherings.
Download Petition →
📱
Social Media Content
Ready-to-post captions for Instagram and Facebook. Follow and tag @HolmdelUnplugged.
Get Social Content →

About Us

Who We Are

We are parents of children in Holmdel Township schools. We are not anti-technology. We are not opposed to the district or its teachers. We are parents who looked at the science, looked at what other communities have done, and decided it was time to act.

Our coalition is led by Hiwot Tessema and Dr. Admasu Gizachew, Holmdel parents and healthcare professionals who believe every child deserves the chance to learn without constant digital distraction.

We believe Holmdel can be a model for New Jersey — and we're asking you to help us get there.

🔬
Evidence-Based
Every claim we make is backed by peer-reviewed research. Download our full research report.
🤝
Collaborative
We work with teachers and administrators, not against them. We support pilots and phased approaches.
👧
Child-First
Everything we do is in service of healthier, happier, more focused kids.
🏘️
Community-Led
This is a parent coalition. We are your neighbors. Join us.

Get in Touch

Questions, ideas, or want to get more involved? We'd love to hear from you.

📧 Email [email protected] 📸 Instagram @HolmdelUnplugged 👥 Facebook Holmdel Unplugged