Education Insight: California’s Push for Phone-Free Classrooms

About This Episode

Season 4. Episode 5.

In this episode of Education Insight, we dive into the implications of Assembly Bill 3216, also known as the Phone-Free Schools Act, which was recently passed by the California state legislature. This new bill would require school districts to implement policies limiting or banning cellphone use during school hours by July 2026. Governor Gavin Newsom, who has been a strong advocate for reducing smartphone distractions in the classroom, is expected to sign the bill, making California the fifth state to impose such a restriction.

To explore how this legislation might affect schools in the Inland Empire, we sat down with Tobin Brinker, President of the Rialto Education Association, and Michael Montano, Vice President of the Association. Both educators bring decades of experience in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms and share their perspectives on the potential benefits and challenges of limiting cellphone use in schools.

In this insightful conversation, we discuss how the new bill could reshape student engagement, reduce distractions, and foster a more focused learning environment across California classrooms. Tune in to learn more about the future of education and technology in our schools.

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