By Sara Beth Williams–
Ahead of the upcoming school year, the San Juan Unified School District has expanded previously updated cell phone and mobile device policies for students across the district to now include all-day restrictions of the use of mobile devices on all elementary, K-8, and middle school campuses.
The process for implementing a first round of a uniform cell phone and mobile device restriction policy began in early 2025, in response to state mandates that required all school districts to implement a uniform policy regulating mobile devices.
“Cell phones and other mobile devices can be powerful learning tools in our classrooms that also help keep students and parents connected during the school day. However, a growing body of research highlights negative impacts these devices have on the school learning environment,” the district states, saying that, in particular, access to and usage of cell phones in classrooms has a negative impact on learning.
Constant access to cell phones causes distractions, and studies show that it can take up to 20 minutes for some students to regain focus after being distracted by a phone notification.
Cell phone usage on campuses has also resulted in negative classroom behavior, including the disrupting of other students, and the heightened potential for academic dishonesty.
A large body of research indicates that cell phone usage on campus has led to cyberbullying, social isolation, and harmful effects on mental health, the district said, particularly when students are using social media platforms.
In response to research studies and concerns from the community at large, California passed a new law, AB 3216, that required school districts adopt a policy restricting students’ use of cell phones by July 1, 2026.
Following the community feedback gathered through the district’s ThoughtExchange platform in February 2025, a draft policy for cell phone regulation during in-class instruction was created in March.
After more feedback was gathered in April, the final policy was approved by the Board of Education in May 2025. that complied with Assembly Bill 3216, restricting student use of phones and other mobile devices during instructional time. The new policy went into effect last school year.
From December 2025 through May 2026, regular surveys were conducted throughout the district regarding the current mobile device restrictions. Surveys were issued to students in grades 6-12, parents and guardians, and school staff.
“In the May survey, 65 percent of students and 88 percent of parents and guardians reported they were still able to communicate about important matters during the school day despite the restrictions,” the district said.
Staff continued to identify consistent enforcement as an area for improvement.
Following a board request to explore all-day restrictions, further feedback gathered from surveys showed strong support for expanded restrictions at the elementary, K-8, and middle school levels.
Support was less at the high school level, the district said. Survey respondents cited the need for high school students’ independence, work-based learning opportunities where cell phones would benefit, and enforcement challenges on larger campuses.
In June 2026, the Board of Education approved revisions to the policy requiring cell phones and other mobile devices to be restricted for the entire school day at elementary, K-8, and middle school campuses, beginning in the 2026-27 school year, based on survey feedback.
Multiple other districts throughout the state have also updated mobile device polices and tightened restrictions, banning all day use, including
Washington Unified, which has instituted a full cell phone usage ban for all students from TK-8th grade, and Oakland Unified School District, which will implement a full “bell-to-bell” ban on cell phone usage throughout schools in the district beginning on Aug. 30.
Sacramento City Unified as well as Twin Rivers Unified, Center Joint Unified, Elk Grove Unified, and Folsom Cordova have also approved cell phone restriction for the entire day, depending on the grade level.
California isn’t the only state pushing for tightened cell phone restrictions in schools. According to USA Today, Ohio, Iowa, Arizona and Florida are already have laws in place related to limiting or banning student phone use in schools, and Wisconsin public schools are in the process of developing cell phone restriction polices.
While some San Juan Unified school board members who are parents, and other community members, worried about the ability to contact their students or the ability for students to contact them, other board members emphasized that parents always have the right and ability to contact the office and that students who need to contact home for emergency situations can contact home or check messages through the school’s office as well.
The district policy also allows for students to contact family during an emergency situation, such as a school lockdown. Students will be allowed to use their devices once staff have determined it is safe to do so. The method for storing devices during class will ensure students can access them in an emergency situation, officials said.
For more information about the district’s mobile device and plans for how it is to be enforced, visit the district’s mobile device policy page here.
