Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ab 3216 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board discusses phone-free schools bill and asks staff for evidence on distractions and equity
Summary
Superintendent Nancy Magee reported on AB 3216 (Phone-Free Schools Act). The Board discussed restricting phones during instructional time, equity issues with device access, and asked staff for data on how phones affect instruction.
Superintendent Nancy Magee provided the Board with a report on Assembly Bill 3216, the Phone-Free Schools Act, and Board members discussed implications for county-level policy and local schools.
Magee clarified that the aim "was not to eliminate cell phone use entirely. Schools with phone-free policies prioritize restricting phone use during instructional time, with some allowance for use during breaks and lunch." Board President Chelsea Bonini requested data to compare how much phones function as a distraction versus a learning tool and asked whether current phone policies are voluntary. Board Member Hugo Torres raised equity concerns, noting not all students have phones or the same device capabilities, and Board Member Ted Lempert urged that policy responses be driven by evidence rather than headlines.
The Board focused on digital literacy and social-emotional supports as complements to any phone restrictions; members asked for staff follow-up with empirical evidence to inform possible county guidance or policy recommendations.
