In-Depth: No Phone Zone as Governor pushes new cellphone restrictions for students on campus

Governor Gavin Newsom says students and cellphones don't go well together at school.

His calls for new limits on cell phones for students have local schools telling News Channel 3 they may enact new restrictions in the coming months.

By age 11, around half of children in the U.S. have a smartphone.

Now, Newsom says a growing body of evidence suggests kids with cell phones are not only more likely to be distracted in class, but are also more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. 

The Governor sent a letter to schools up and down the state last month encouraging them to restrict phones in classrooms immediately. He said in a statement, “The evidence is clear: reducing phone use in class leads to improved concentration, better academic outcomes, and enhanced social interactions.”

He cited a Pew Research Center survey showing that 72% of high school teachers and 33% of their middle school counterparts say cell phone distractions are a major problem in classrooms. 

A Common Sense Media poll found that nearly two-thirds of students with cell phones use them during school, regardless of school policies against it, and teens with cell phones send 110 text messages a week while in the classroom.  

The Coachella Valley Unified School District says students know that cellphones are not out or in use in the classroom, or on campus, but there are also student rights and concerns.

Director of Student Support Services for the district, Julissa Hernandez said, "We need to also recognize that there'll be students who have it based on a health need or an identified disability or special service."

Superintendent Dr. Francis Esparza said, "I do understand the parents give them these phones to make sure that their child is safe and that, you know, during an emergency, they're able to contact them." 

The U.S. surgeon general is calling for a warning label on social media to alert users it’s “associated with significant mental health harms in adolescents.” 

Local schools say they're still working on policies to further limit cell phones in class, but the governor did applaud new phone restrictions in several school districts around the state that have already led to higher test scores, grades, and student engagement, with less bullying and damage to school facilities. 

Dos Pueblos High School Principal Bill Woodard said, “If a student’s cell phone pings in their pockets it can take them up to 20 minutes to refocus on what's happening in the classroom so the research is coming in hot and heavy all over the country about the negative impact of cell phones in the class.”

“The idea is, in teaching and learning locations, any place that's designated a learning area, the classrooms, the library, any place where kids are learning, that cell phones and smart watches are often away,” said Santa Barbara Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Student and Family Services ShaKenya Edison.

We asked the Palm Springs Unified School District about the governor's call. A district representative declined an interview but said in a statement, “PSUSD is in the process of forming a committee to review our cell phone policies to make recommendations on possible policy revisions during the second semester of this school year. The health and safety of our students is our number one priority and is always the driving force behind all district procedures, guidelines, and decisions.” 

The Desert Sands Unified School District also replied in a statement, “The district has an existing board policy requiring that cell phones be turned off during instructional time. We will be reviewing this policy with site administrators, who will then discuss it with staff to ensure consistent enforcement. Additionally, the district is exploring educational campaigns to inform families about the risks associated with excessive screen time. We understand and share the concerns about student safety, which remains our top priority."

"We can't do away with cell phones. There's absolutely no way," Dr. Esparza said, "but we do have to limit the usage for social engagement, and that's what we need our governor to do." 

The Governor says he’s now working with legislators to create new laws, but again says there’s no need for schools to implement new actions, and is urging every school district to act now.