The cell phone ban at the country’s second-largest school district will begin early next year, and now officials are detailing just how the massive change will take effect.
The Los Angeles Unified School District voted to ban cell phone use during the school day in June. It’s set to go into effect on Feb. 18, 2025, which is about a month later than the original implementation date.
The headliner of the policy: cell phones won’t be permitted to be used on campus from the start of the school day through the end — not even during lunch or scheduled breaks.
The ban applies to all “smart” devices, like watches and tablets that have messaging and internet browsing capabilities.
Each individual school will decide how phones are stored or locked up during the school day. Some, for example, may have students to place their phones inside of containers located in each classroom during instruction, while others could require them to be stowed inside of their backpacks.
While the school’s decide how to separate students from their devices, the detailed policy requires that each student have access to their phones in case of an emergency situation — meaning that schools would not be able to require students to keep their phones stored in their lockers throughout the day.
Exceptions to the rule could be made on an individual basis for the case of an Individualized Education Program (IEP), health-based need, 504 Plan or translation purposes.
When speaking to reporters, LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Cavalho said the ban is aimed at redirecting students’ attention toward physical, in-person social interactions, rather than digital socialization.
“Students will finally be separated from mobile phones during the regular school day, allowing them to be the kids they are,” Cavalho said. “Allowing them to socially interact with peers of their age. Allowing them to not be distracted in the classroom.”
Students that violate the policy could be subject to punishment ranging from verbal warnings to device confiscation.
Similar policies will soon become commonplace throughout California. In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that will require each public school district, charter school and county department of education to develop policy limiting the use of smartphones during school hours.
