BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 Bakersfield City School District students can expect a new policy limiting smartphone use in schools to take effect by the start of their fall semester in 2026, according to school district officials.<\/p>\n
The BCSD Board of Education heard a presentation on the community\u2019s feedback for a new smartphone restriction policy for students during its meeting Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
Assembly Bill 3216, also known as the Phone-Free Schools Act, requires California school districts to adopt a policy that limits or bans students from using smartphones during school hours by July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n
Attorney accused of crashing into DUI checkpoint fails to show for 2 hearings <\/a><\/p>\n Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the law on Sept. 23, 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that excessive smartphone use increases anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues \u2014 but we have the power to intervene,\u201d Newsom said in a previous statement. \u201cThis new law will help students focus on academics, social development, and the world in front of them, not their screens, when they\u2019re in school.\u201d<\/p>\n The policy, once adopted by the board, would be updated every five years.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to create a policy because of Assembly Bill 3216, which requires us to involve significant stakeholder participation to develop a policy to limit student smartphone use,\u201d BCSD Executive Director of Instructional Support Services Tim Fulenwider said at the meeting.<\/p>\n The school district received feedback from students and families through meetings and surveys from September through October, according to Fulenwider.<\/p>\n The surveys included responses from over 10,000 BCSD community members: 6,918 4th through 8th grade students, 2,088 parents and 1,007 school district employees.<\/p>\n According to the surveys, most students with a phone said they use it \u201conce in a while\u201d and their main use for it is to communicate with their family.<\/p>\n Many students also said they believe smartphone use doesn\u2019t affect their learning, although they agreed phones cause some problems related to bullying or social media, according to the survey.<\/p>\n Phone use also increases as students get older, Fulenwider said.<\/p>\n Parents and school staff supported lockable pouches, classroom pockets or keeping phones inside backpacks, but still wanted their children to have access to a phone for emergencies, according to Fulenwider.<\/p>\n Among school staff, 6th through 8th grade teachers reported phone use as interfering with learning more frequently than teachers of other grades, according to survey results.<\/p>\n Most school employees believe phones harm student behavior and prefer a partial ban on smartphones, as well as a strict definition of emergency situations, Fulenwider said.<\/p>\n Employees said the school district should also address other devices such as smartwatches.<\/p>\n In the survey, parents also wanted a strict definition of the emergency situation rule, which requires schools to allow phones during emergencies.<\/p>\n Christmas Town developer brings Tortuga Water Park before Bakersfield City Council in preliminary permitting step <\/a><\/p>\n Many parents responded they felt strongly their kids need phones for emergency reasons and their main reason for supplying the phones was for emergency contact.<\/p>\n However, most parents also believe students\u2019 phone use negatively affects their social skills and bullying-related concerns. They favored a \u201cpartial ban\u201d where phones can\u2019t be shown during the day or limited use, Fulenwider said.<\/p>\n But during in-person meetings, both parents and school employees said they supported a complete ban on phones except as law allowed.\u00a0Parents also said in the meetings that major problems included bullying, safety and privacy concerns and cheating.<\/p>\n Parents asked for resources for students with phone addiction and internet blocking tools, and school staff also said resources should focus on mental health and addiction.<\/p>\n After the presentation, a couple board members brought up concerns about students\u2019 phones being turned off as it would block location services from parents.<\/p>\n Area 3 Trustee and Clerk Pro-Tem Chris Cruz-Boone said students losing the ability to take their phones out to let their families know everything is fine during security issues can cause problems until BCSD figures out a new system.<\/p>\n Cruz-Boone said BCSD schools have been trying different things. She asked if principals could have more autonomy to figure out how that practice works on the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cIs our intention to implement one strategy throughout district or to leave the policy flexible \u2014 I hate to use the word \u2018flexible,\u2019 but \u2014 nuanced enough that different protocols can be implemented at different schools?\u201d Cruz-Boone said.<\/p>\n While BCSD doesn\u2019t have a separate policy addressing students\u2019 phone use, it does prohibit cell phones, smartwatches, pagers and other mobile communication devices during school hours under their \u201cConduct of Pupils\u201d policy.<\/p>\n Device use is only allowed for the following:<\/p>\n In the case of an emergency, or in response to a perceived threat of danger<\/p>\n When a teacher gives permission to the student to have or use a mobile communication device with any \u201creasonable limitation\u201d set by that teacher<\/p>\n When a licensed physician or surgeon determines that phone possession and usage is necessary for the student\u2019s health and well-being<\/p>\n When phone possession or usage is required by the student\u2019s individualized education program<\/p>\n The policy also bans any \u201clisten-in\u201d or audio recording tools when students are allowed to use their phones. It was last revised in November of 2022.<\/p>\n The Kern High School District does have a board policy titled \u201cMobile Communication Devices,\u201d which only allows students to use their phone during class in the same situations BCSD listed.<\/p>\n