California officials join push for cell phone restrictions in schools

(The Center Square) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom called upon schools to use their authority to limit smartphones in classrooms after asking the legislature to take further action to reduce smartphone use at school.

California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, who is running to replace Newsom after the governor terms out in 2026, followed up hours later with a similar request of his own. 

“As I work with the Legislature to further limit student smartphone use on campus, there is no reason for schools to wait,” Newsom wrote in his letter. “I urge every school district to act now to restrict smartphone use on campus as we begin the new academic year. The evidence is clear: reducing phone use in class leads to improved concentration, better academic outcomes, and enhanced social interactions.” 

Newsom also noted Pew Research Center found “72% of high school and 33% of middle school teachers report cell phone distractions as a major problem” and Common Sense Media found “97% of students use their phones during the school day for a median of 43 minutes.” The majority of California students do not reach state standards in any subject. 

Under AB 272, a bill signed into law by Newsom in 2019, school districts have the authority to regulate smartphone use during school hours. The bill had zero votes or formal arguments in opposition. 

Education experts welcome the change but warn that legislation last year that took away disciplinary tools from educators could leave frustrated teachers without any means of enforcing smartphone rules.

“It’s a worthy effort but it’s unclear if teachers and administrators will have the authority to enforce such rules after legislation last year tied their hands regarding behavioral codes,” said Fordham Institute senior visiting fellow Daniel Buck to The Center Square. “I’d rather have no rule on phones than a set rule that teachers can’t enforce.” 

Last year, Newsom signed a bill into law ending willful defiance suspensions in all TK-12 schools outside of the private school system. “Willful defiance” is defined as “disrupting school activities or otherwise willfully defying the valid authority of school staff,” a category under which refusing to follow smartphone policies would fall. 

This bill was sponsored by Thurmond, whose office maintains that plenty of enforcement mechanisms remain available for schools to use. 

“Enforcement is very important and necessary and is working,” said Liz Sanders, California Department of Education Director of Communications, to The Center Square. “We are hearing and seeing from schools they can do this, they are doing this, and it’s very helpful for student health.” 

Sanders noted the policy of Roseville City School District near Sacramento, which requires students to power down their phones and not use them during the school day, as an example. Roseville, which had its first day of school last week, gives students a warning on the first offense, parent notification on the second, detention on the third, and requires that students turn in their phones during the day on the fourth. 

Many parents agree students should be able to have phones at school to be able to keep in touch with their kids. An EdChoice survey from March found 71% of parents thought their children should be allowed to have cellphones at school. A February survey from the National Parents Union found 70% of parents think cell phones should be banned from class, while over half thought phone use should be permitted during other times in the school day.