Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Discipline topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oakdale trustees begin planning to implement new state "phone-free" school law
Summary
District staff told the board that California's recent 'phone-free schools' law (cited as Assembly Bill 3216 and Education Code 48901.7 in the presentation) requires Oakdale Joint Unified to adopt rules limiting student smartphone use by July 1, 2026, and outlined exceptions, progressive consequences and a plan for stakeholder input.
Oakdale Joint Unified School District staff told trustees they must adopt a student cell-phone policy by July 1, 2026, to comply with a state law the presenter identified as Assembly Bill 3216 and Education Code 48901.7.
"It's not optional," the district presenter said, explaining the law requires districts, charters and county offices to limit or prohibit smartphone use during school hours. The presenter reviewed permitted exceptions: emergency communications during a perceived threat, teacher or administrator permission for educational or health reasons, and documented needs tied to a student's individualized education program or medical prescription.
The presenter described the district's existing conduct code and board policy, which currently require devices to be turned off and stored during the school day and set out progressive consequences: first offense usually a warning or confiscation returned at the end of the day; second offense a confiscation returned to a parent or detention/in-house suspension; and third offense possible short suspension and parent meetings.
Board members pressed staff for data and enforcement details. Sandra Booth and the presenter shared four years of school-level data showing overall cell-phone incidents fluctuated but trending down. Trustees asked whether higher incident counts at the junior high reflect stricter enforcement or higher actual misuse; the student board representative and staff said enforcement varies by classroom and site, and that some teachers consistently enforce the rule while others do not.
Trustees also raised concerns about teacher conduct and consistency: one trustee said some students report seeing teachers on phones during class, and asked how the district addresses staff use. The presenter said administrators discuss phone expectations in staff meetings and campus-level signage, and that a Google form allows teachers to notify campus monitors when a phone must be collected.
Next steps include forming a committee or surveying students, parents and staff; the presenter said the district will clearly communicate proposed policies, seek input, and review policy effectiveness regularly. The presenter noted the statutory implementation deadline of July 1, 2026, and that policies will be reviewed at least every five years to stay compliant.
