Los Angeles Unified School District Board Members Vote to Ban Cell Phones in Classrooms Starting in 2025
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board members recently met and voted (5–2) to ban cellphones in classrooms, making it the largest school district in the US to implement such a measure.
Set to start in January 2025, this policy aims to support students’ academic success and well-being by reducing distractions from smartphones and social media, which hinder learning and in-person social interactions.
Board member Nick Melvoin, who introduced the measure, emphasized that smartphones and social media distract kids from learning and stifle their in-person social connections.
Nationwide, educators report various ways students misuse phones in class, from watching Netflix and using gambling apps to sending Snapchat messages and shopping online. Distractions like these have become so pervasive that teachers argue parents are often unaware of the extent to which phones are used inside the classroom.
A recent survey by the National Parents Union highlights that while parents recognize the negative impacts of social media on…
