School districts may soon be required to restrict or ban smartphones under a new bill making its way through the California State Assembly. Sponsoring Assembly member Albert Muratsuchi said, “Cell phones can be a distraction in the classroom, and there are social and emotional consequences to too much use.”
While California school districts currently have the authority to prohibit or not prohibit smartphones in their schools, the new bill would require districts to adopt a policy that limits phone use in some capacity. The smartphone restriction or ban would be in effect when students were “under the supervision and control” of teachers or staff. There would be instances that students would be allowed to use their phones. The ban says when students use their phones during classes, it “interferes with the educational mission of the schools, lowers pupil performance, particularly among low-achieving pupils, promotes cyberbullying, and contributes to an increase in teenage anxiety, depression, and suicide.”
The bill’s next scheduled committee hearing is April 10. If approved, it would move to the Appropriations Committee and then the State Assembly would then vote on the bill.
