OAN Staff James Meyers
2:02 PM – Tuesday, August 13, 2024
California Governor Gavin Newsom is now pushing for all schools in the state to ban the use of cellphones in class as he works to push the legislature to enact the policy across The Golden State.
Newsom (D-Calif.) sent out a letter on Tuesday to all school districts in California, calling for them to adopt the policy, highlighting that the current law in place enables schools to take the action as students return within the next month.
“Every classroom should be a place of focus, learning, and growth. 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,” Newsom wrote.
“This legislation was a crucial step in our efforts to minimize distractions and foster a more conducive environment for our students to learn,” he added. “It is imperative that school districts take full advantage of this law to address the growing concerns surrounding student well-being and academic performance.”
The Democrat governor cited actions enacted by the Los Angeles Unified School District that bans the use of cellphones during classes beginning in January 2025, along with other schools and districts. He also urged “every school district to act now to restrict smartphone use on campus as we begin the new academic year.”
“Every classroom should be a place of focus, learning, and growth,” Newsom wrote. “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.”
Additionally, Newsom noted data from the Pew Research Center, which claims 72% of high school teachers labeled cell phone distractions as a “significant problem.”
Meanwhile, several other states have already implemented banning phones in schools, including Florida and Indiana. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) signed the bill into law in May 2023.
Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia (R-Va.) also issued an executive order last month that would ban cell phones from classrooms, still leaving specific policies to school districts.
Exactly how cellphone bans are implemented, and the consequences students may face if caught, varies by the school and district in California.
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