[ti:California Passed Law to Limit Phone Use in Schools]
[al:Education Report]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2024-09-27]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]A new state law will soon require school districts in California to create new rules restricting student smartphone use.
[00:12.51]California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law recently.
[00:17.84]The legislation makes California the latest state to try to reduce student phone access.
[00:27.24]Florida, Louisiana, Indiana, and several other states have also passed laws aimed at restricting student phone use at school.
[00:40.20]The legislation is aimed at reducing distractions in the classroom. 
[00:45.80]It is also meant to address the mental health effects that social media can have on children.
[00:54.28]Newsom said in a statement, "This new law will help students focus on academics, social development, and the world in front of them, not their screens, when they're in school."
[01:08.59]But some critics of such policies worry the rules will make it harder for students to seek help if there is an emergency. 
[01:18.00]Critics also argue that decisions on phone bans should be made by school districts, and not state governments.
[01:27.92]The law requires districts to pass rules by July 1, 2026. 
[01:34.66]The rules should limit or ban students from using smartphones on school grounds or while students are under the supervision of school employees.
[01:48.70]The new law comes after Newsom signed an earlier law in 2019 permitting school districts to restrict student phone access.
[01:59.03]In June, Newsom announced plans to seek more legislation. 
[02:04.61]His announcement came after the U.S. surgeon general called on the United States Congress to require written warning on social media platforms describing their effects on young people. 
[02:20.85]Newsom sent letters to districts in August, urging them to limit student device use in school.
[02:29.53]Assembly member Josh Hoover represents the city of Folsom.
[02:35.28]Hoover introduced the bill with a group of lawmakers. 
[02:39.61]Phones are restricted where Hoover's children attend school. 
[02:43.89]He said many of the students do not always like the policy. He said that is in part a sign of how addictive phones can be.
[02:55.07]Hoover said, "Any time you're talking about interrupting that addiction, it's certainly going to be hard for students sometimes."
[03:04.97]Some parents have raised concerns that school cellphone bans could cut parents off from their children if there is an emergency, such as a school shooting.
[03:18.92]The 2019 law permitting districts to restrict student phone access makes exceptions for emergencies. 
[03:28.59]The new law does not change that. Some supporters of school phone restrictions say it may be safer to have phones off in an active shooter situation.
[03:41.26]ShaKenya Edison is assistant superintendent with the Santa Barbara Unified School District.
[03:49.62]The district put in place a ban on student phone use in class during the 2023 to 2024 school year. 
[03:59.74]She said teachers have noted that their students are paying closer attention in class since the start of the ban.
[04:09.75]Tarik McFall is principal of Sutter Middle School in Folsom.
[04:16.16]He said that before his school's cellphone ban, students recorded fights, filmed TikTok videos and spent lunchtime looking at their phones.
[04:29.05]The ban has "totally changed the culture" of the school, he said.
[04:34.59]Now, students spend more time talking to one another.
[04:39.90]"To have them put away, to have them power off...it has been a great thing," McFall said.
[04:47.85]I'm Ashley Thompson.