California Gov. Gavin Newsom has commended Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) for its leadership in restricting cell phone usage on campuses.
His statement was made Tuesday in a letter sent to school districts urging them to restrict smartphone use in classrooms as the new academic year begins.
“Schools and districts, including Santa Barbara Unified and Bullard High in Fresno, have seen positive impacts of limiting smartphones on campus, with some reporting higher test scores, grades, and student engagement, and less bullying and damage to school facilities,” Newsom wrote.
SBUSD created the Off and Away policy three years ago in partnership with the Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA). It was born out of discussions about the impact of cell phone use on instruction, student engagement, and classroom management.
“SBTA is proud of the teachers who were integral in implementing this policy and continue to work with the district to make the policy effective,” the group’s leadership said. “We saw the negative impact devices were having on our students and knew we needed a change.
“We want what’s best for our students, and the Off and Away campaign is helping them. The more the policy is supported system-wide, the more benefits we’ll see for students.”
Some teachers choose to use cell phone hotels for their restrictions, while others have students put cell phones in their backpacks when they enter the classroom, and others use pouches.
“The encroachment of smartphones in our daily lives is unavoidable; however, we must keep our schools as sacred spaces dedicated to learning skills like reading and writing and building positive relationships with each other,” said Superintendent Hilda Maldonado.
“We see many students who are severely impacted by social media in a way that influences their mental health and well-being,” she said. “With teachers and parents as partners, we can re-focus our students on the joy of learning”
In preparation for the new school year, principals throughout Santa Barbara Unified are communicating with their families to share policies and expectations for students.