The report found that 97% of students use their phones during the school day, with an average usage time of 43 minutes.
– Governor Gavin Newsom has asked all California schools to immediately restrict cell phone use in the classroom at the start of the new school year. In a letter to school districts, Newsom emphasized the mental health, academic and social risks associated with cell phone use among students.
The governor praised districts that have already implemented restrictions, such as Los Angeles Unified, and encouraged others to follow suit. Newsom stressed the importance of creating an environment that is focused on learning and free of distractions, citing studies that link excessive cell phone use to increased anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.
Newsom pointed to a Pew Research Center survey that found that 72% of high school and 33% of middle school teachers view cell phone distractions as a major problem. A report from Common Sense Media found that 97% of students use their phones during the school day, with the average usage time being 43 minutes. The governor also pointed to the U.S. Surgeon General’s warnings about the dangers of social media as further evidence of the need for restrictions.
The letter builds on Newsom’s previous efforts to regulate smartphone use in schools. In 2019, he signed AB 272, which gives school districts the authority to control smartphone use during school hours. Newsom is currently working with the California Legislature to further restrict student smartphone use on campus.
Newsom urged school districts to take immediate action, citing the benefits of reducing cellphone use in the classroom. Schools that have implemented restrictions, such as Santa Barbara Unified and Bullard High in Fresno, have reported positive results, including better test scores, higher grades, increased student engagement, and less bullying and damage to school facilities.
“Every classroom should be a place of focus, learning and growth,” Newsom said in the letter. “By working together, educators, administrators and parents can create an environment where students are fully engaged in their education, free from the distractions of phones and the pressures of social media.”
For more information, including a copy of the Governor’s letter, click here.
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