Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) began prohibiting students from using cell phones on campus last Tuesday (February 11). The school board approved the cell phone ban with a 5-2 vote in June of last year, originally scheduled to be implemented in January of this year, much earlier than the California law requiring implementation by July 2026.
LAUSD, the second largest unified school district in the United States and the largest in California, has not yet confirmed if all schools in the district have enforced the ban. The district has allocated $7 million for the purchase of cell phone bags, lockers, or other facilities for storing cell phones; schools may also choose to allow students to store their phones themselves.
One of the biggest concerns for parents is whether students will be allowed to use their phones in emergency situations or when feeling threatened. This will be assessed and decided by individual schools. According to an article by LAist, smartphones and devices with similar smart functions are not allowed to be used throughout the entire school day, including break times and lunchtime. Students who violate the rules will be verbally reminded or reported to counselors, parents, and guardians.
According to a press release from LAUSD on June 18 last year, the Board approved a motion from the District 4 Board Member Nick Melvoin, citing research suggesting that “the resolution not only helps students focus on learning but also gives them more opportunities to interact and communicate.”
Former Board President Jackie Goldberg noted that cell phone use in schools has become uncontrollable, with students sitting together without conversing but rather texting. Board Member Kelly Gonez of District 6 pointed out that cell phones have a negative impact on students, especially with the increasing addictive nature of social media.
Reported by “gvwire.com,” the Madera Unified School District (MUSD) in San Joaquin Valley also required students to put their phones in designated bags before entering campus in mid-January, with high schools in the district set to implement a cell phone ban starting this fall. Most school districts in California are preparing to enforce similar measures, with the Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) in the San Joaquin Valley area hoping to receive policy support from the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and develop plans before the California law comes into effect.
California Assembly Bill AB3216, titled “Pupils: use of smartphones,” was passed by the Senate and Assembly with votes of 38-1 and 76-0, respectively in August 2024. On September 23, Governor Newsom signed the “Phone-Free School Act” into law.
Legislators argue that student use of smartphones in schools disrupts learning, lowers academic performance, fosters cyberbullying, and leads to increased anxiety, depression, and potential suicide among teenagers. After banning phones in classrooms, students’ standardized test scores are expected to improve by 6% or more.
Dr. Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University and author of the 2017 book “iGen”, researched the first generation to enter adolescence after the widespread use of smartphones, showing that 8th graders spending more than 10 hours a week on social media are more likely to describe themselves as unhappy. Teenagers spending 3 hours or more per day on social media exhibit a 35% higher likelihood of suicidal thoughts or risk; adolescents spending 5 hours or more show a 71% increased risk of suicidal tendencies.
AB3216 amends the California Education Code, mandating school districts, county boards of education, or charter schools to establish and pass cell phone bans by July 1, 2026, and review them every 5 years. Exceptions include emergency situations, threats, permission granted by school teachers or administrators, or cases where students require phones for personalized education. The law does not authorize monitoring, collecting, or accessing students’ internet activities.
During discussions in the state legislature, the California School Boards Association opposed the bill, arguing that districts already have the ability to address smartphone issues, and the law limits the decision-making authority of governing boards, contradicting the principle of local control.