Governor Gavin Newsom signed groundbreaking legislation requiring every California school district, charter school, and county office of education to limit or prohibit smartphone use on campus by July 2026, marking a major victory for student mental health and academic success. The Phone-Free School Act responds to overwhelming research showing that excessive smartphone use increases anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among young people, with a recent survey finding that 72% of high school teachers and 33% of middle school teachers report cell phone distractions as a major classroom problem. Common Sense Media research revealed that an astonishing 97% of students use their phones during the school day for a median of 43 minutes, creating constant distractions that interfere with learning and meaningful in-person connections with classmates and teachers. The bipartisan legislation supports the growing movement to help students focus on academics, social development, and the world in front of them rather than their screens, while still allowing phone use during emergencies, medical situations, or when approved by teachers for educational purposes.
Schools will work with students, parents, and educators to develop policies that meet the unique needs of their communities, with many districts already implementing “off and away” approaches where students keep phones in backpacks throughout the school day. Youth advocates are celebrating the change because online conflicts that start on social media often escalate into in-person fights at school, with Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley’s executive director noting that young people say things online they would never say face to face. The new law addresses the U.S. Surgeon General’s warning about social media risks and provides reasonable guardrails for smartphone use while protecting students’ ability to communicate with parents in genuine emergencies or health situations. Some students like fourth grader Victoria Limon are already concerned that classmates who rely on phones for answers may fall behind later, saying students need to learn the material themselves instead of cheating their way through difficult subjects.
