California Schools to Enforce Smartphone Restrictions Under New Law Signed by Governor Newsom
California school districts are now required to implement rules limiting student smartphone use, under a new law signed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday. The legislation aims to reduce distractions in the classroom and address the mental health effects of social media on students. This makes California the latest state to adopt measures curbing student phone access, following similar laws in Florida, Louisiana, and Indiana.
“This new law will help students focus on academics, social development, and the world in front of them, not their screens, when they’re in school,” Newsom said in a statement.
Critics argue that enforcing the restrictions should not fall solely on teachers and express concerns about limiting students’ access to phones in emergencies. Others believe decisions on phone bans should be left to individual schools or districts.
Troy Flint, spokesperson for the California School Boards Association, stated, “We support those districts that have already acted independently to implement restrictions because they determined it was best for their communities regarding safety, school culture, and academic achievement. We simply oppose the mandate.”
Under the new law, districts must establish policies by July 1, 2026, to limit or ban smartphone use on campus while students are under staff supervision. These policies will be reviewed and updated every five years.
The law builds on a 2019 measure that authorized districts to restrict student phone use. Newsom has renewed efforts to tackle this issue, following calls from the U.S. surgeon general for warning labels on social media platforms due to their effects on young people. Last month, Newsom urged districts to limit student phone use, coinciding with Los Angeles Unified’s decision to ban phones during the school day starting in January.
Assemblymember Josh Hoover, a Republican and parent who introduced the bill, noted that phone restrictions in his children’s schools help students focus better and engage in face-to-face interactions. While students may resist such rules due to the addictive nature of phones, Hoover believes they understand the benefits.
Concerns over safety, particularly following a recent school shooting in Georgia, have been raised by some parents. However, the law includes emergency exceptions, and proponents argue that phones can be a risk in active shooter situations, as ringing phones may reveal a student’s location.
Teachers in districts that have implemented phone bans report positive changes in student engagement. In the Santa Barbara Unified School District, Assistant Superintendent ShaKenya Edison said the policy has increased student focus in class. Similarly, Sutter Middle School Principal Tarik McFall noted that banning phones has transformed the school’s culture, with students now spending more time interacting with one another.
While technology is increasingly used as a learning tool, particularly after the pandemic, some teachers find smartphones a helpful backup when students forget school-issued Chromebooks. Mara Harvey, a social studies teacher at Discovery High School in Sacramento, highlighted that smartphones sometimes become necessary for accessing class materials.
Source: Associated Press
