California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the Santa Barbara Unified School District for its leadership in restricting cell phone use on school campuses.

The statement was made in a letter to school districts on Tuesday, urging them to limit smartphone use in classrooms as the new school year begins.

“Schools and districts, including Santa Barbara Unified and Bullard High in Fresno, have seen positive effects of restricting smartphones on campus. Some reported better test scores, higher grades and increased student engagement, as well as less bullying and damage to school facilities,” wrote Governor Newsom.

SB Unified developed the Off and Away policy three years ago in collaboration with the Santa Barbara Teachers Association. It grew out of discussions about the impact of cell phone use on instruction, student participation and classroom management.

“SBTA is proud of the teachers who were instrumental in implementing this policy and continue to work with the district to make the policy effective. We saw the negative impact devices were having on our students and knew we needed to make a change. We want the best for our students and the Off and Away campaign helps them do that. The more the policy is supported systemwide, the more benefits we will see for students,” SBTA leadership said.

Some teachers use cell phone hotels to support their classroom restrictions, while others ask their students to put their phones in their backpacks when they enter the classroom, and still others use cell phone pouches.

“The incursion of smartphones into our daily lives is inevitable, yet we must maintain our schools as sacred places dedicated to learning skills like reading and writing and building positive relationships with one another. We see many students heavily influenced by social media, which affects their mental health and well-being. With teachers and parents as partners, we can refocus our students on the joy of learning,” said Dr. Hilda Maldonado, Superintendent.

In preparation for the new school year, principals across the Santa Barbara Unified School District are in contact with students’ families to communicate policies and expectations.