LAUSD Smart Phone Ban Goes Into Effect On Tuesday

The Los Angeles Unified School District smart phone ban policy went into effect on Tuesday, ending virtually all smart phone and smart device usage while in school for students in grades K-12.

For years, cell phones in schools have been a growing issue. While some districts have allowed cell phones to be allowed in school as long as they are turned off and not being used during class, a growing number have instituted ban policies. Primarily the issue is the number of problems that smart phones, present. This includes cell phones being a major distraction, using the phones to cheat, mental health issues associated with social media, poor school performance, and the safety issue with cyberbullying. 72% of all high school teachers in the country have even said cell phones being used in class a major problem in the class room.

Following several years of debate and demands by parent and teacher groups to limit smart phone usage in some way, the LAUSD voted 5-2 in June of 2024 to ban smart phones from schools during school hours. However, questions soon arose on how to enforce the ban. Pouches, lockers, and simply just leaving it to students to not use them were all considered. The LAUSD ban was then backed up by the passage of AB 3216 in September, which imposed either a ban or limitation of smart phone usage at schools statewide.

Final policies were then nailed down by the end of the year. A few exceptions to the ban were carved out for students with health-based reasons and for students with special needs who have either an individualized education program or 504 plan. Ban methods were also left to individual schools. Smart phones were not the only devices specified, with the District expanding upon them later in the year. In addition to smart phones, tablets and other smart devices were to be banned as well. This includes earbuds, smartwatches and smart glasses.

Finally, it was further decided that the ban wouldn’t begin when students returned in January, but following President’s Day weekend to allow for a warning period.

“Students will finally be separated from mobile phones during the regular school day, allowing them to be the kids they are,” said LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho in November. “Allowing them to socially interact with peers of their age. Allowing them to not be distracted in the classroom.”

Ban in place

This all led to the ban on Tuesday. Reactions were mixed across the District, with some students and parents concerned about safety. While the LAUSD has said that phones and devices will be allowed during emergencies, it did little to quell some fears. Also of concern is that students learning English are allowed the use of devices to help translate and learn the language, with some worried that this could mark them down as easier to spot for immigration authorities.

“I’d say mixed results, yeah,”  noted Cynthia Ramos, a parent-teacher group leader at an LAUSD middle school, to the Globe on Tuesday. “Most schools by now have had the policies already in place. Some were questioning it still after the wildfires. And today, students were putting them in pouches at the schools around here. Some parents are upset that they can’t communicate with their children during school hours now in case something happens. We have some immigrant families who are very concerned about ICE now, with the ban taking away one of the main warning systems for them. Others are worried sick that, in case of a shooting, they won’t know if their children are ok.

“But, I’d say most are accepting of it now. Students and parents. It’s part of the routine. Before going in, put their phones in pouches, lock them up, then when getting out use the magnetic thing to unlock them. And I can tell you, it is fast becoming an image where when school lets out that everyone is on their phone, furiously looking at what they missed during the day now.”

Teachers have also seen positives.

“Some of us had in our minds that students would be losing their minds with their phones being taken away, but I have to give them some credit. Most have adjusted well,” added LAUSD high school teacher “Elena” to the Globe on Tuesday. “We had our ban in effect since last month. For me the worst was one student who would not stay off her phone after being told to put it away. I sent her to the Principal’s office and she came back phoneless a little bit later, looking angry and defeated. That was really it.

“Students have been complaining about it, saying that they don’t feel as safe now, but most say they get why it happened. You can also tell who the smart phone addicts are, as they still go for their pockets or purses at times, only to realize they aren’t there.”

No major incidents were reported on Tuesday, with longer term effects likely to be looked into in the coming months and years, similar to how a few district schools have kept bans in place for the past several years and have developed some preliminary studies on them.

“There will be fewer distractions,” said Carvalho before the ban on Tuesday. “Students will be able to actually lift their faces from their cell phones and visually, socially interact with their age appropriate peers in their schools. We’ll be able to restore the joy of being a child back to kids.”