California legislature passed a bill that gives school districts in the state until July 1, 2026 to come up with their own policies to restrict or prohibit cell phone use at school.
Under the Phone-Free Schools Act , or AB 3216, school districts would have to update the policy every 5 years. The proposed law also gives schools the ability to enforce the bans by using in-classroom lockers or individual locking pouches.
There are some exceptions in the bill in that schools can’t ban kids from using phones out of medical necessity, in the event of an emergency, or for individualized instruction.
Lawmakers cited a number of reasons for restricting cellphone use at school, including concerns over anxiety, depression, and bullying from always being on phones and social media.
In June, the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board approved a resolution banning students from using their cell phones on campus during the school day. That will go into effect in January 2025.
One man told KNX News’ Jon Baird he thinks the ban is a great idea.