Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 12:14
California has officially mandated that all its schools limit or ban smartphone use by July 1, 2026, under the Phone-Free Schools Act. This deadline arrives as state lawmakers consider even stricter measures for younger students, aiming to reduce distractions and address mental health concerns linked to excessive phone use.
Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2024, the Phone-Free Schools Act (Assembly Bill 3216) requires every school district, charter school, and county office of education to develop and adopt a policy limiting or prohibiting students from using smartphones at school or while under school supervision. The law gives school officials until July 1, 2026, to comply. State officials have expressed concerns about how excessive phone use harms student wellbeing and causes learning distractions.
On the same day the Phone-Free Schools Act deadline takes effect, lawmakers introduced Assembly Bill 1644. This bill would require schools serving transitional kindergarten through 8th grade to adopt policies that prohibit smartphone use entirely by July 2028—a stricter approach than the current law's option to either limit or ban. The Senate Education Committee is expected to vote on this measure on July 1.
The Phone-Free Schools Act includes key exceptions: students cannot be prohibited from using smartphones in emergencies, and devices may be required as part of a student's individualized education program (IEP). Schools have adopted various approaches, from requiring phones to be placed in lockable pouches to simply asking students to turn them off and store them in backpacks during class.
California is part of a broader movement. Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa, Arizona, and Florida have also enacted laws limiting or banning student phone use. A 2024 survey by the Association of American Educators found that 70% of teachers rank cellphone use among their top five concerns, with 54% citing distraction and 26% citing mental health issues as reasons for supporting bans.
In Colorado, a state law passed last year required districts to adopt cellphone policies by July 1, 2026, though it did not mandate a ban. Nearly all of Colorado’s 20 largest school districts have complied. Five of those districts adopted a bell-to-bell cellphone ban for all grades, while eleven took a hybrid approach—prohibiting younger students from using phones throughout the school day but allowing high school students to use them during lunch, passing periods, or when teachers permit it for certain class activities.
In Banning, located in Riverside County, local schools must now align with the state mandate. Banning Unified School District will need to adopt a smartphone policy by July 1, 2026. The district can look to models like Los Angeles Unified (LAUSD) and San Diego Unified, which already restrict phone usage. LAUSD is also implementing a screen-time policy starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Banning schools may consider pouches, lockers, or classroom storage to comply while balancing safety and learning needs.
California's Phone-Free Schools Act marks a significant step toward reducing digital distractions in classrooms. As schools across the state—including those in Banning—work to meet the July 1, 2026 deadline, the conversation continues on how best to balance technology use with student wellbeing and academic focus. Stay informed about your local district's policy by attending school board meetings or checking district websites.
