Pupil safety: comprehensive school safety plans: use of smartphones.

Assembly Member Hoover's legislation refines California's approach to student smartphone use in schools by requiring educational governing bodies to develop comprehensive policies that balance safety considerations with appropriate device access. The measure modifies existing requirements for school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to establish smartphone usage guidelines by July 1, 2026, with mandatory updates every five years thereafter.

The bill establishes a framework requiring significant input from pupils, parents, and educators in developing these policies, which must promote evidence-based smartphone practices supporting student learning and well-being. While governing bodies may implement enforcement mechanisms limiting device access, the legislation maintains several protected circumstances for smartphone possession - including teacher-approved use, documented medical necessity, and accommodations required by individualized education programs.

A key modification addresses emergency situations: schools may now restrict smartphone use during emergencies or perceived threats, but only when such limitations are explicitly outlined in their comprehensive safety plans. The legislation also includes privacy protections, specifically prohibiting schools from monitoring or collecting data about students' online activities. These provisions aim to create locally-tailored policies that address both safety protocols and appropriate device usage while preserving student privacy rights.