California state lawmakers have approved a bill requiring all public schools to devise a policy by July 1, 2026, to limit or prohibit the use of smartphones during the school day, the Los Angeles Times website reports today (August 28, 2024).
It would force distracted , cell--obsessed students to do something many haven't ben willing to do on their own: put their phones away in class. The legislation is expected to be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who urged educators as the academic year began to enact restrictions , citing the "mental health, scholastic, and social risks" of phone use in classrooms.
California would be the fifth state to require school districts to limit students' phone usage, joining Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Virginia.
The bill also includes a few exceptions -- schools cannot prohibit students from using phones for individualized instruction, medical necessity, and in emergencies. A teacher or administrator can also grant permission.
The proposed law does not include details on what constitutes an emergency, leaving it to schools to decide.
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