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Starting TODAY, cellphones, smartwatches and earbuds are banned during the school day in Los Angeles Unified schools…but there is some confusion about what the policy will look like throughout the district.
The district designated $7 million for pouches, lockers, and other devices to store students’ phones. But schools can also just ask students to store their phones, smartwatches and earbuds in their backpacks.
So it’s going to be different at every school…and also, parents are VERY torn on how they feel about this…
Some parents say “I wish it would have happened sooner”…some say “it’s a terrible waste of money…I want to get ahold of my kid if I need to.”
So, students can use the devices before and after school only (not at lunch, not between classes).
There are exceptions for students who need their phones to get help with translation, or for health-based reasons, like to monitor blood sugar. And schools must provide students access to their phones in case of an emergency.
As far as punishment, right now it’s just verbal reminders and referrals to a counselor.