SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Students with cell phones on the Santa Barbara Unified School District campus are being taught the rules during the first week of school.

Every student in every classroom must leave their phone in a special holder called a “phone hotel.”

You are not allowed to use the telephone during class unless it is a recognized emergency.

The plan was recently praised by Governor Newsom.

At Santa Barbara High School, the news of a ban on cell phones in classrooms was passed on to students and their parents.

Principal Fred Razo said, “He informed them about the phone hotels and said we will work together to help their students focus on their studies.”

He says the response has been positive.

In case of emergency, students have access to their phone.

Xavier Moreno is a senior who is adjusting. “Honestly, I’m not a fan of it. I just like being on the phone, so that’s probably just me.”

Students were also warned not to circumvent the rule by placing an old, broken phone in the holder and then keeping their current phone.

The school district says students who are not interrupted by their cell phones and focus on their studies perform better academically across the board.