Governor urges schools to restrict cell phones in classrooms

Report notes that 97% of students use their phones during the school day, with a median usage time of 43 minutes

– Gov. Gavin Newsom has called on all California schools to immediately restrict cell phone use in classrooms as the new academic year begins. In a letter to school districts, Newsom highlighted the mental health, academic, and social risks associated with cell phone use among students.

The governor praised districts that have already implemented restrictions, such as Los Angeles Unified, and encouraged others to follow suit. Newsom emphasized the importance of creating an environment focused on learning and free from distractions, citing studies that link excessive cell phone use to increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

Newsom referenced a Pew Research Center survey that found 72% of high school and 33% of middle school teachers consider cell phone distractions a major problem. A report from Common Sense Media noted that 97% of students use their phones during the school day, with a median usage time of 43 minutes. The governor also pointed to the U.S. Surgeon General’s warnings about the dangers of social media as further evidence of the need for restrictions.

The letter builds on Newsom’s earlier efforts to regulate smartphone use in schools. In 2019, he signed AB 272, which grants school districts the authority to control smartphone usage during school hours. Newsom is currently working with the California Legislature to further limit student smartphone use on campuses.

Newsom urged school districts to take immediate action, noting the benefits of reducing cell phone use in classrooms. Schools that have implemented restrictions, such as Santa Barbara Unified and Bullard High in Fresno, have reported positive outcomes, including higher test scores, improved grades, increased student engagement, and a decrease in bullying and damage to school facilities.

“Every classroom should be a place of focus, learning, and growth,” Newsom stated in the letter. “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.”

For more information, including a copy of the governor’s letter, click here.