The Los Angeles Unified School District on Tuesday announced details about its pending cell phone ban on school campuses starting in January 2025.
The district’s presentation to the school board said LAUSD’s policy is in line with the Cell Phone Ban Act, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, which requires all school districts to develop policies that limit or ban the use of smartphones. It was shown that
Starting with the second semester of the 2024-2025 academic year, students will no longer be able to use cell phones on campus during class hours.
This means you need to turn off your smartphone and store it in different ways.
This is what happens when cell phones are banned
Each school may have the option for students to keep their phones in their backpacks or use portable storage, pouches, or cell phone holders to lock their devices.
Even if your phone can only make calls and text messages, those features will also be turned off and saved.
Other smart devices such as watches and glasses are also prohibited during class hours.
However, after school and students can use smartphones.
Credit: LAUSD
How is the cell phone ban enforced?
Once the new policy goes into effect, students will receive a verbal reminder so that teachers and school counselors will contact students and their parents to remind them of the new policy.
Under the current plan, LAUSD will train students and teachers through mid-February before the policy fully takes effect on February 18, 2025.
Strictly will provide one-time funding if your school chooses to use a storage locker or pouch to store your student’s cell phone.
here is the exception
In the event of an emergency, LAUSD policy requires immediate access to a powered-off phone.
In the event of an emergency, students will have access to their cell phones. This will be determined by school staff.
If a student requests the use of a phone because they “feel threatened of danger,” the school will conduct a threat assessment before allowing them to use the phone.
Students with a health need may be allowed to use a phone.
