Banning AI in Schools Doesn’t Work: Rep. Gottheimer Unveils Bipartisan Plan for K-12 AI Labs and Phone-Free Classrooms

K-12 AI Education & Classroom Cell Phone Restrictions: Gottheimer Unveils Bipartisan Back-to-School Agenda

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes workplace skills and classroom learning, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) unveiled a comprehensive, bipartisan back-to-school agenda designed to modernize K-12 education while reinforcing core learning fundamentals.

Speaking at George Washington Middle School in Ridgewood, Gottheimer—Co-Chair of the House Commission on Artificial Intelligence and the Innovation Economy—announced new federal legislative initiatives alongside local educational leaders, PTA representatives, and middle school students.

---

Key Legislative Initiatives & Priorities

• The AI LABS Act: Co-led with Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-23), this bipartisan legislation directs the U.S. Department of Education to establish grant programs funding dedicated AI labs in public schools. The labs will provide structured curricula to teach students practical AI literacy, critical thinking, and ethics, while training educators to incorporate AI tools into lesson plans effectively.

• Keeping Phones Out of Classrooms: Gottheimer backed the bipartisan UNPLUGGED Act (co-sponsored by Reps. Eugene Vindman and Jen Kiggans) to support state and local policies restricting personal electronic devices during school hours. The bill provides federal grants for secure storage solutions like lockboxes and pouches, with accommodations for medical and translation needs.

• Protecting State Funding: Sending formal communication to Governor Mikie Sherrill and NJ Education Commissioner Dr. Lily Laux, Gottheimer urged continued state funding for New Jersey’s Phone-Free Schools Grant Program, which supports bell-to-bell phone policies across local districts.

• Expanding Rural Broadband Access: In letters to the FCC and NTIA, Gottheimer called for immediate release and prioritization of federal broadband infrastructure funding for underserved rural communities—including over 3,000 unserved households in Sussex County—to ensure equal access to digital learning tools.

---

AI Literacy vs. Classroom Bans

Addressing recent policy decisions in other jurisdictions—such as New York City’s full restriction on AI tools through eighth grade—Gottheimer emphasized that outright bans fail to prepare students for an AI-integrated economy.

“We’re not going to pretend AI doesn’t exist, and we’re not going to ban it and hope it goes away,” said Rep. Gottheimer. “AI can be a powerful tool, but it can never replace the fundamentals. Give our schools the tools. Give our teachers the training. And give our children a real head start, instead of a false choice between banning technology outright and drowning in it.”

Recent polling highlights the necessity of structured classroom guidance: while roughly 45% of New Jersey students report using AI for coursework, nearly two-thirds admit to using AI improperly for assignments. Furthermore, surveys show that 87% of parents desire clearer communication from school districts regarding AI expectations and screen time policies.

---

Community Leadership in Tech Integration

The announcement highlighted local efforts by the Ridgewood Public School District, which launched its “Return to a Strong Foundation” initiative. The policy focuses on reducing elementary laptop screens, enforcing locker-based phone restrictions, and prioritizing paper-based critical thinking alongside digital tools.

Event attendees included Ridgewood Superintendent Dr. Mark Schwarz, George Washington Middle School Principal Dave Bailey, Councilman Frank Mortimer, representatives from the NJ PTA, and local student leaders.

Tell your story #TheRidgewoodblog , #Indpendentnews, #information, #advertise, #guestpost, #affiliatemarketing,#NorthJersey, #NJ , #News, #localnews, #bergencounty, #sponsoredpost, #SponsoredContent, #contentplacement , #linkplacement, Email: Onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com

Tags / Topic Entities: Josh Gottheimer Education Policy Artificial Intelligence New Jersey News K-12 Education Digital Divide Ridgewood NJ EdTech