California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Phone-Free Schools Act into law this week, requiring every school district, charter school and county office of education across the state to implement restrictions on cell phone use by July 1, 2026. rule.
“We know that excessive smartphone use increases anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, but we have the ability to intervene,” Newsom said in a statement.
Meanwhile, other states such as New York are considering legislation to completely ban cell phone use in schools. It’s part of a slew of laws at the state and national levels targeting child safety related to technology, including the Children’s Online Safety Act and age-restriction laws in places like Texas.
As Assembly Bill 3216 reads, schools should “develop and adopt, and update every five years, policies that restrict or prohibit student use of smartphones” whenever students are on campus or under the school’s supervision. It describes the goal as promoting “the use of evidence-based smartphone practices to support student learning and well-being” and says it should be “responsive to the unique needs and aspirations of students, parents and educators in each community”.
It also said schools could implement “enforcement mechanisms” to restrict the use of mobile phones.
The California School Boards Association opposes the new law, arguing it is redundant and forces policymakers to adopt policies that restrict cell phones even if they are found to be unnecessary because new york times reported.
At least 15 states have added laws or policies restricting students’ use of cellphones in schools, according to tracking by EducationWeek.
