LOS ANGELES—As students in the Los Angeles Unified School District return to classes Monday, they will be met with new rules, including a plan to ban cell phones in classrooms.
The controversial policy is set to go into effect in January, impacting over 400,000 students across Los Angeles County who returned to campuses Monday.
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho explained to KNX News that the cell phone ban is intended to help students concentrate and focus during class time.
“We need to separate them,” Carvalho stated. “We need to allow them to be kids again, to socialize with their peers and enjoy the simple joys of childhood.”
In June, the Los Angeles Unified School District board passed a resolution with a 5–2 vote to prohibit students from using cell phones and social media throughout the school day.
Board member Nick Melvoin emphasized that the resolution aims to address cyberbullying and enhance focus and concentration in the classroom. Research cited in the proposal linked excessive cell phone use to increased stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, aggression, and suicidal thoughts among adolescents.
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Some parents are hesitant about the ban, expressing concerns about their children’s access to phones in case of emergencies.
The resolution, co-sponsored by board members Jackie Goldberg and Tanya Ortiz Franklin, argues that students’ use of cell phones can hinder meaningful in-person interactions and facilitate cyberbullying.
Another change coming to LAUSD is the introduction of electric school buses. These new buses are already being used in some areas on Monday, with plans to transition to all electric vehicles eventually.
As the new school year unfolds, the LAUSD will seek voter approval in November for a $9 billion bond measure to support campus upgrades and modernization. Carvalho informed the Board of Education last week that over 60 percent of the district’s school buildings are over 50 years old and urgently require updates.
The proposed bond measure will need the support of 55 percent of voters to pass on Nov. 5.
However, there are opponents, including the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which estimates that the bond measure would result in over $8,200 in increased property taxes for the owner of a median-priced home over 30 years.
Local officials are highlighting safety improvements already implemented around many campuses.
Mayor Karen Bass announced on Friday that more than 450 slow zones and 250 speed bumps have been installed near schools to enhance safety for students walking to campus.
She also mentioned that the City Department of Transportation plans to deploy over 500 crossing guards in the 2024-25 school year, marking the most extensive deployment of crossing guards in over a decade.
“The city took swift action to install numerous safety measures near schools ahead of the new school year,” Bass stated. “In collaboration with the City Council and Los Angeles Unified School District, we have made streets safer near schools and will continue to prioritize student safety.”
