Governor Gavin Newsom Urges California Schools to Restrict Student Cell Phone Use
California Governor Gavin Newsom sent letters to school districts across the state on Tuesday, urging them to implement restrictions on student cell phone use in schools. Newsom’s call to action comes as several states across the country are debating and/or implementing cell phone bans in public classrooms.
In his letter, Newsom encouraged California school districts to “act now” and enforce limitations on cell phone usage to help students concentrate better during class. He also highlighted the risks associated with cell phone and social media use among youth, referencing US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s June appeal for Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms due to their impact on young people.
“Every classroom should be a place of focus, learning, and growth,” Newsom wrote in his letter. “Working together, educators, administrators, and parents can create an environment where students are fully engaged in their education, free from the distractions on the phones and pressures of social media.”
The letters sent to districts do not constitute an official mandate or legislation. However, Newsom has indicated that he intends to address the issue of cell phones in schools and collaborate with the state legislature to develop policy.
Some districts have already taken steps in this direction; for instance, the Santa Barbara Unified and Los Angeles Unified school districts have implemented bans on student cell phone use in recent years, according to the Associated Press.
This initiative mirrors actions taken in other states, such as Virginia, where Governor Glenn Youngkin recently issued an executive order banning cell phones in public schools. Youngkin’s order aims to create a “cellphone-free education” environment, addressing what he described as an “alarming mental health crisis and chronic health conditions affecting adolescents.”
