As California students prepare to go back to school, it's a good idea for parents and their kids to go over their school's policies regarding cellphone use.
The rules can vary widely by district and grade level, and some schools have tightened their policies since last year. That makes it worth checking not only whether phones are allowed, but also when they must be turned off, stored or surrendered and what exceptions apply.
About 99.7 percent of U.S. public school principals say their schools have smartphone policies, according to research published in JAMA Pediatrics. Though policies differ, restrictions are generally tighter for elementary and middle school students. High schoolers have more freedoms and can use them at lunch or other free times.
At least 38 states and the District of Columbia now require local school districts to ban or restrict student cellphone use in schools, according to a newly updated Education Week tracking.
Here's what California lawmakers approved:
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Phone-Free Schools Act, a law that requires all public schools in the state to develop and adopt a policy by July 1, 2026, to restrict cell phone use throughout the school day.
The law requires the districts to create the policy with input from students, parents and educators and that the policy be updated every five years.
The law also allows for exemptions — schools can't prohibit students from using phones for individual instruction, medical necessity, and in the event of emergencies.
Education Week tracking also shows:
Policies are only as effective as their enforcement, though.
A nationally representative 2025 University of Southern California survey found that most teens attend schools with cellphone restrictions, but the policies haven't sharply reduced cellphone use.
Teens estimated they spent about 1.5 hours on their phones during the school day, regardless of their school's policy, and nearly half of teens used phones in class.
Parents were much more supportive of the rules than teens, although most in both groups favored allowing phones outside instructional time rather than banning them all day.
Most parents and teens said the policies had little effect on learning, relationships, bullying or student well-being, though parents were more likely than teens to see benefits.
A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found that 74 percent of U.S. adults supported banning middle and high school students from using cellphones during class, up from 68 percent in 2024.
Support for banning phones throughout the entire school day also rose, from 36 percent to 44 percent.
Most adults surveyed said bell-to-bell bans for middle and high school students would likely improve classroom behavior, grades and social skills, though fewer expected them to improve student safety.
Teens are less supportive of cellphone restrictions. Pew polling earlier this year found only 41 percent of teens supported cellphone bans in middle and high school classrooms.
According to the USC study, support for cellphone restrictions was highest among teens whose schools allowed phone use during noninstructional periods.
Tell us what you think in the comments below: What should schools consider when setting student cellphone rules, and where should they draw the line between limiting distractions and allowing students to stay connected?
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