Four months into the LAUSD cellphone ban, there are fewer visible phones during the school day, and students are interacting more, according to teachers and administrators. The ban, which started in February, also includes smartwatches and earbuds. It aims to address concerns about youth mental health, bullying, and classroom distractions.
Venice High School math teacher Jessica Quindel noticed an immediate change in her students. “It was almost like you had given them a sugar high; they were bouncing off the walls,” she said, offering stress balls and fidget toys to occupy students’ hands. Quindel sees the ban as a positive challenge, as students are now more focused on learning.
However, some students, like Venice High sophomore Sophia, say the ban hasn’t stopped them from bringing phones to school. “People still bring their phones to school, they just don’t get caught,” Sophia explained. She noted that the ban feels more like an inconvenience, especially during free time when she could use her phone for extracurricular activities.
The LAUSD Board expanded the phone ban to include lunch and passing periods, citing rising concerns about the impact of phones on students. LAist reports that the district allocated $7 million for lockers and pouches, but about half of the schools chose to rely on the “honor system,” asking students to keep phones turned off in their backpacks.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill requiring similar policies statewide by July 2026, with California joining at least 24 states in restricting phone use in schools.
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