California’s educational institutions work to limit smartphone use by July 1 deadline  

In response to national and global trends, California’s public education system has committed to implement “policies to limit or prohibit smartphone use during school hours” by July 1. 

“This mandate stems from Assembly Bill 3216, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2024, marking a bold step to address the growing concerns over digital distractions in classrooms,” writes Eric Hastings for WebProNews. “The legislation, known as the Phone-Free School Act, builds on earlier efforts but now enforces a statewide requirement, compelling districts to craft and update these policies every five years.” 

Hastings notes how this policy “aligns with global movements, such as France’s 2018 school phone ban.” He also suggests federal guidelines may follow California’s example, especially after Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on social media’s mental health effects on youth in 2023. 

“Ultimately, AB 3216 embodies a cultural pivot, challenging the notion that connectivity equals progress,” he concludes. “By fostering environments where learning takes precedence over likes, the state aims to nurture healthier, more engaged generations.” 

‘Putting our children first’ 

As reported by The Lion, a growing number of states – including New Jersey – have mandated or considered mandating uniform cellphone policies across public education. 

“If we want to provide New Jersey’s children with a world-class education, we need to give schools the tools necessary to remove the very distractions that rob students of their attention and their concentration,” said New Jersey’s Gov. Phil Murphy in October. 

On Jan. 8, Murphy signed legislation approved by the state Senate requiring local boards of education to limit K-12 students’ cellphone use. 

Meanwhile in Kansas, both Democrat and Republican Senate leaders introduced legislation Jan. 6 to ban cellphones in public and accredited private schools. 

“Unfortunately, I think it’s these [agreed-upon] issues that don’t really hit the media,” Democrat Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, told The Lion. “We like to talk about the divisiveness, but I think this is a really good piece of legislation that will affect our children in Kansas, and hopefully it does get highlighted.” 

Studies showed phone-free classrooms produced more face-to-face conversations, better academic outcomes, safer school environments and stronger peer relationships among students, Sykes said. 

Republican Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi, R-Andale, announced the bill alongside Sykes. 

“The minority leader and I work together on a wide range of issues, but I believe this legislation rises above the rest,” he noted. “It is about putting our children first and strengthening the future of our state.”