With the 2025-2026 school year coming to an end, phone policies for the next school are a big question for this generation of high schoolers and middle schoolers. Now that the Phone-Free School Act has been introduced, there’s lots to discuss. Both sides present convincing cases on why or why not we should have stricter phone policies.
Assembly Bill 3216, otherwise known as the Phone-Free School Act, is a Bill that requires every school district, charter school, and county office of education to restrict the usage of cell phones. In other words: absolutely no access to phones during school hours. This began in 2019 when Governor Newsom signed AB 272, which first allowed schools to place regulations on phone usage. This law made it possible to return education to its previous non-technological methods (at least for personal use).
Acts like the Phone-Free School Act are controversial. Many students believe safety is the biggest concern in schools and that having access to a cellphone is crucial for unpredictable situations. Frenchy Sarkis ‘26 said, “My phone isn’t just social media, it’s a resource. I can research, contact people, and collect qualitative data using my camera, all on my cell phone. It should not be removed from schools.” Yes, iPhone addiction is real, but there are other, more useful, reasons to be on a iPhone.
On the other hand, cell phone addictions are a genuine concept, and do get in the way of life. Phones are not the center of the universe and its important to note their impact on human interaction. The more students are on phones, the less they interact with people, and the more their social skills deteriorate.
Additionally, social media promotes lower attention spans by creating small videos like TikTok or Instagram reels. When an attention span is lowered, it makes studying and focusing in the classroom more difficult.
When asked about the impact of the Phone-Free School Act on Bishop O’Dowd, the Dean of Students, Ms Donahue, said, “Due to O’Dowd being a private, Catholic school, this act does not apply to us. It is up to us what we do with the policies.” After asking if O’Dowd plans on following the recent trends and entirely banning cell phones, Ms. Donahue and Mr. Goree said that stricter cell phone policies have been debated since the 2024-2025 school year. The school administration has had a series of meetings about more restrictive phone usage already, and will most likely be continuing with those meetings.
While the 2026-2027 school year’s phone policy is still up in the air, students can expect it to be similar or harsher. What students consider a “harsher” regulation is dependent on behavior. If phones continue being utilized as a distraction instead of a tool, it’s expected that regulation will become stricter.
