California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday called on public-school districts to implement policies restricting smartphone use in classrooms , citing the reported negative impacts of social media on children’s mental health.
“Every classroom should be a place of focus, learning, and growth,” Newsom said in a letter addressed to districts. “Working together, educators, administrators, and parents can create an environment where students are fully engaged in their education, free from the distractions on the phones and pressures of social media.”
The governor lauded school districts that already have blanket policies in place, including the Los Angeles Unified School District. In June, LAUSD became the largest school district in the country to announce a blanket policy banning cell-phone use during school days. LAUSD’s board of education called on the district to create a comprehensive implementation policy to take effect in January of 2025.
San Francisco Unified School District follows school-board policy calling for all students’ mobile communication devices to be turned off and put away during school hours, except in the event of an emergency.