The California legislature has recently passed a bill that mandates all public schools to develop a strategy for restricting or prohibiting the use of phones during school hours. It is anticipated that Governor Gavin Newsom will endorse this bill and sign it into law.
Assemblyman Josh Hoover has introduced the Phone-Free Schools Act, which aims to provide public schools in the state with a deadline until July 2026 to develop a comprehensive plan for the implementation of a smartphone ban or other restrictions.
Schools, for instance, have the option to mandate that students store their phones in lockers or sealed pouches throughout the school day. It is worth noting that the bill does provide certain exceptions.
RELATED STORIES
In certain circumstances, such as a medical necessity or emergency, schools would be unable to prevent students from using their phones.
LAUSD, the second largest school district in the country, has implemented a new policy that prohibits students from using cellphones and social media during the school day.
Some schools and districts in Southern California have already taken proactive measures to enforce their own bans on cell phone usage. In June, the Los Angeles Unified School District approved a ban for all of its campuses.
The ban, which has yet to take effect, marks a significant move by the LAUSD, as it becomes the largest school district in the country to approve such a measure. In order to comply with the ban or any other restrictions, LAUSD schools are required to devise their own strategies by January 2025.
If Governor Newsom signs the statewide bill, California will join the ranks of five states in the country implementing similar measures.
