Newsom pushes school districts to ban cellphones in class while legislation pends

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is calling on school districts in the Golden State to ban the use of cellphones in class as he works to push the legislature to enact the policy statewide.

Newsom sent a letter on Tuesday to all school districts in California calling for them to adopt the policy, noting that current law enables them to take this action as students return to class within the next month.

"As I work with the Legislature to further limit student smartphone use on campus, there is no reason for schools to wait. In 2019, I signed AB 272 (Muratsuchi) into law, which grants school districts the authority to regulate the use of smartphones during school hours," Newsom wrote.

"This legislation was a crucial step in our efforts to minimize distractions and foster a more conducive environment for our students to learn," he added. "It is imperative that school districts take full advantage of this law to address the growing concerns surrounding student well-being and academic performance."

The California governor noted actions taken by the Los Angeles Unified School District to ban the use of cellphones during class beginning in January 2025, along with other schools and districts, but he urged "every school district to act now to restrict smartphone use on campus as we begin the new academic year."

"Every classroom should be a place of focus, learning, and growth," Newsom wrote. "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."

The plea comes months after Newsom announced he would work with the state legislature to limit cellphone usage in schools. He has cited data from the Pew Research Center that shows 72% of high school teachers found cellphone distractions a major problem, along with the surgeon general's warning on the matter.

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Several other states have taken the lead in banning cellphones in schools, including Florida and Indiana. The Florida bill was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in May 2023.

Another state looking to restrict cellphone usage by students in school is Virginia, where Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) issued an executive order last month that would ban cellphones from classrooms but leave specific policies to school districts.