On Tuesday Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Phone-Free School Act went into effect across Los Angeles Unified School District. The ban is not new for many schools in the state, which have had it in place for several months. Although it will prove to be difficult for many students, advocates hope to see many benefits.
The new policy states that students must keep their phones, smartwatches, and earbuds off and stored away, even during lunch. Around 50% of LAUSD schools are taking measures by providing their students with lockers and pouches. Others are allowing their students to simply store them in their backpacks.
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said about 50% of schools will use the honor system, trusting that students won’t use prohibited devices during school hours. If caught using their phones, students will face consequences varying in severity by institution. Schools have said they could call students' parents, confiscate phones, and even send students to speak with administrators.
When the ban was initially introduced, many parents were concerned about how they would contact their kids in the case of an emergency. To this, LAUSD operations officials say there’s no formal definition of “emergency,” but that “common sense” will apply.
For example, they say school staff may give phones back in case of an incident, for health-related reasons, or for translation purposes. For non-emergencies, students can use the front office to call home.
Ultimately, the ban hopes to improve student focus and engagement and decrease cyberbullying and ever-growing social media addictions. LAUSD Board members cite research saying, “excessive phone usage is directly associated with increased stress, anxiety, depression, sleep issues, feelings of aggression, and suicidal thoughts in adolescents.”
The ban presents a major shift for students who have grown up with these devices their entire lives. However, at least on day one, LAUSD said “the day progressed without reports of disruptions.”