Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi’s Assembly Bill 272 this week. The bill encourages California school districts to develop and adopt policies that limit or prohibit student use of smartphones on school grounds during school hours, with specific exceptions.
The law doesn’t force school districts to adopt new policies, but instead nudges them to create policies limiting smartphones (except in case of emergency) where they may not already exist, though districts are urged to consider other situations, as when a teacher or administrator grants permission for academic or other approved purposes; when necessary for the health and well-being of the student; or when a phone is needed by a student with special needs.