Away For The Day | Latest News - California schools must limit or ban smartphones under new law

California tasked leaders of its schools with adopting policies limiting or banning students’ smartphone use. Now, that deadline is here — and right as lawmakers pursue a stricter smartphone policy that would impact students statewide.

The Phone-Free Schools Act requires that every school district, charter school and county office of education create a policy limiting or prohibiting students from using their smartphones at school or while they’re being supervised by an employee of that school district, charter school or county office of education.

It gave school officials a deadline: Develop and adopt such a policy by July 1, 2026.

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