The Los Angeles Unified School District recently approved a measure to ban cellphones all day, with concerns that the devices distract students from learning, impact mental health and hinder personal connections. The district, which serves 400,000 students and is the second-largest school system in the country, plans to implement the ban in January.
Across the United States, educators are grappling with the issue of smartphones in schools. In response to this, New York Governor Kathy Hochul plans to propose a similar ban on smartphones in schools during the 2025 legislative session. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed intentions to collaborate with the state legislature to restrict smartphone use during school hours in schools across California. He believes that when students are in school, they should be paying attention to their studies rather than their screens.
Board member Nick Melvoin introduced a resolution on Tuesday that explored various methods to enforce the ban, including requiring students to store their cellphones in locked pouches or special lockers. The decision was based on research findings that show the negative effects of cellphone use on young people, such as surveys indicating teens feel “addicted” to their phones and that a large percentage of children use their phones during the school day.
The Los Angeles Unified School District’s current policy prohibits cellphones during class hours but allows them during breaks. However, school administrators still face challenges managing student smartphone use. Despite these challenges, Melvoin expressed concern that children are not able to fully embrace their childhood due to excessive cellphone use. This sentiment is echoed by around 70% of high school teachers across the United States who believe that cellphone distractions are a major problem in their classrooms.
