In a move to curb increased rates of cell phone usage in schools, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 3216, or the “Phone-Free Schools Act”, into California law.
The bill mandates that all California school districts create a policy to prohibit cell phone usage in all circumstances before Jul. 1, 2026; they must also update that policy every five years.
With the passage of the bill, it is likely that SSUSD policy may have to change.
“The implementation of AB 3216 will necessitate a review and potential revision of SSUSD’s current cell phone policy,” said Superintendent Dr. April Moore. “To ensure that any changes reflect the needs and priorities of our community, we will engage in a collaborative process involving staff, students, and families. This inclusive approach will help us gather valuable input before making any adjustments to the existing plan.”
Students at Burroughs seem more inclined to keep their devices with them.
“The hardest part of giving up my phone would be not having the ability to change my music”, said sophomore Carlos Pizarro.
His sentiment is shared with a strong number of students, and is a primary reason to keep a phone in class, but other reasons were more legitimate.
“I can’t have a second screen for reference when I’m doing Digital Electronics circuitry and technical drawings”, said senior Torsten Bickauskas.
However, many studies, including some referenced in AB 3216, show that students perform better without phones. A 2015 paper from the United Kingdom referenced in the bill describes how student’s test scores increased by 6.4%. This, as the study claimed, was equivalent to tacking on five extra days in the year.
Other studies correlate cell phone and social media usage with increased rates of depression and other complications.
Despite student wishes, though, the district will likely begin looking at these studies themselves and making the phone policy stricter in return. Such a change would be expected to occur between the start of the next academic year and the due date for the policy.
The text of the bill is available for free on the California Legislative Information page.
