A proposed bill could ban students in California schools from using cell phones on campus.
Assembly Bill 272 would require school boards to limit or outright ban the use of cell phones on campus during school hours, reports the LA Times. Many districts in the state have already implemented rules prohibiting cell phone use at schools.
The bill, proposed by 66th District Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), states: “There is growing evidence that unrestricted use of smartphones by pupils at elementary and secondary schools during the school day interferes with the educational mission of the schools, lowers pupil performance, particularly among low-achieving pupils, promotes cyberbullying, and contributes to an increase in teenage anxiety, depression, and suicide.”
If the bill passes, it would require school boards to adopt their own policies, including allowing student cell phone use in the event of an emergency.
The Times notes that in 2016, 73% of teens carried a smartphone.
