ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Some school districts across California are enacting new cell phone policies and bans for the 2024-2025 school year.
Right now, California law allows school districts to adopt cell phone policies that fit the school district's needs.
Assembly Bill 3216, authored by three California assembly members including Josh Hoover, would limit smartphone usage in schools. If passed, it would require school districts to adopt a policy by July 1, 2026, and update it every five years to limit or prohibit cell phones on campus.
Here's the current status of Roseville school districts and how they're approaching cell phone policies.
Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District
Schools start Thursday, August 8 in the Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District.
Gina Nielsen, a spokesperson for the school district, said it has had a policy in place since 2019. She said the school handbook practices were more stringent than the policy required, so the district's policy was recently updated at a June board meeting.
Students in Transitional Kindergarten to 8th grade can't use cell phones or other devices once they've entered campus for the instructional day. Devices need to be turned off and not kept on their person for the school day including breaks, passing periods, recess and lunch. Students can use devices on campus during extra-curricular activities outside of school hours.
There are exceptions to limiting cell phone use for emergencies, when a teacher allows a student to use it, when a physician deems it necessary, and when a student's education program requires it.
If students use their cell phones during school hours, they may be disciplined and someone with the district could confiscate the device, which may need to be picked up by a parent or guardian.
Read the full policy HERE.
Eureka Union School District
Schools start Wednesday, August 14 in the Eureka Union School District.
The Eureka Union School District board approved updating its policy on mobile communication devices in January.
Students in Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade can't use communication devices once they've entered a TK-3 campus for the instructional day. It's bell to bell at 4-8th grade campuses. Students in grades seven and eight can use their communication devices after the last period of the day and during after-school extracurricular activities and sporting activities, according to the district.
There are exceptions to the policy including emergencies, district employees allowing students to use their devices, when it is necessary for the student's health and when it's required for the student's education program.
There are consequences for breaking the policy, which include being disciplined and a district employee confiscating the device where a parent or guardian may have to pick it up.
Read the full policy HERE.
Roseville City School District
Schools start Thursday, August 8 in the Roseville City School District.
The Roseville City School District Board of Education approved a new mobile communication devices policy at a May 9 meeting.
According to Jessica Hull, the school district's Executive Director of Communication and Community Engagement, all students will be told their phones must be off when they enter school and remain off until the end of the day.
Besides cell phones, students also can't use personal tablets, Bluetooth headphones and smartwatches. Smartwatches can be worn if students have texts, phone calls and other notifications turned off during the school day.
If students need to contact family during the day, they can make a call from the office. Family can call the front office if they need to share something with their student.
According to the school district, if a student needs to use their phone during the day to monitor or manage a diagnosed medical condition, a licensed physician or surgeon must make that determination. In the event of a school emergency, using cell phones won't be a violation of policy.
Read the full policy HERE.
Roseville Joint Union High School District
Schools start Thursday, August 8 in the Roseville Joint Union High School District.
Rob Hasty, a spokesperson for the district, said its policy is very flexible.
"We know some of our teachers want to have students utilize their phones for different searches and work they are doing in class... using their smartphone as a resource for information, while others do not want the disruption or distractions (depending on the lesson)," Hasty told ABC10.
Hasty said the district hasn't adopted a new or different policy this year, they allow teachers to be flexible with cell phones and use them for instruction or have students use their Chromebooks.
Watch more on ABC10 | Lincoln Unified School District implements cell phone ban for new school year
