SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Lakeside Union School District could be the latest in the county to ban cell phones from the classroom.
During its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, the East County school district’s board is set to take up the question of whether to limit student cell phone usage, which could guide any potential measures restricting devices.
According to Lakeside Union Board President Andrew Hayes, a July survey within the district found “a significant majority support” — about 62.1% of parents and 87.8% of staff members — for limitations on cell phone use during school hours.
The discussion comes on the heels of recent pushes, including calls from Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state legislature, to address distractions like cell phones in the classroom.
Supporters of these policies argue they benefit student productivity and academic outcomes while reducing behavior-related issues.
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“I urge every school district to act now to restrict smartphone use on campus as we begin the new academic year,” Newsom wrote in an Aug. 13 letter to California school districts. “The evidence is clear: reducing phone use in class leads to improved concentration, better academic outcomes, and enhanced social interactions.”