In the first few weeks of freshman year, a buzzing sound followed me throughout the school day. To most of my peers, the occasional notification or the errant phone call wasn’t a big deal. But coming from a middle school that strictly banned phone use, I wasn’t used to pulling out my phone in classrooms at all — even to upload a photo of classwork or take a picture of a science experiment. 

Although the 2023 Palo Alto High Student Handbook prohibited cell phone use during instructional time, teachers were not required to collect students’ phones, with many finding it more difficult to regulate phone use during work periods or just before the end of class.

The absence of a strict phone policy seemed like just another change to get used to as a freshman, just another freedom that came automatically with high school. It could make students more independent, forcing us to manage our time effectively and resist the temptation to check our texts or scroll through social media while in class. 

But a lack of set rules on phone use in classrooms could also cause distractions for students and place the burden on teachers to enforce their own classroom policies. As I navigated through high school, I began to realize that our lenient phone policy was a problem which was affecting our learning and our presence at school.

In September 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 3216, the Phone-Free School Act. The law requires every California school district to establish a cell phone policy by July 1, 2026.

Paly’s new phone policy went into effect in August for the 2025-26 school year, requiring teachers to collect phones at the beginning of class and also setting consequences for students who don’t follow the policy. On the first offense, students must email their parents. On the second offense, a student’s phone is confiscated for the day. On the third, a parent or guardian must pick up the confiscated phone. 

Although some may view the policy as strict or unnecessary, this new approach will increase concentration and academic performance. 

A 2024 Pew Research Center study found that 72% of U.S. high school teachers think cell phones are a major distraction in their classrooms, though 71% report their schools have a cell phone policy. Even with a phone policy prohibiting students from using phones in class, without effective prevention or deterrence, students can still check their phones with little to no consequences.

Research also shows restrictions on phone use can improve student performance. According to data published this year by the National Center for Education Statistics, 53% of school administrators reported cell phone use negatively affected students’ academic performance. 

Opponents of the policy argue that students should have access to their phones in case of emergencies. However, the negative impact of cell phones on student concentration and performance from day to day should outweigh the benefit of having immediate access to their phones if and when there is an emergency. Besides, there are always protocols in place to keep students safe during emergencies regardless of whether or not they have access to their phones.  

Paly’s policy simply requires students to place their phones into an organizer. As of May 2025, more than 1,000 school districts across 20 states require students to lock their phones inside magnetically sealed pouches, according to Yonder, the company that created these pouches. Once closed, the pouches require a special magnet to open, making it difficult for schools to ensure that all students are able to access their phones quickly in the case of an emergency.

In comparison to other ways of enforcing the Phone-Free School Act, requiring students to put their phones into a phone holder for the length of the class period is reasonable — students are able to focus on their classwork while still in reach of their phones in the rare event that an emergency does occur.

While the shift may feel jarring for many students, this stricter rule around cellphone use will reduce distractions, improve classroom participation and ultimately boost academic performance.

With some clarification to address concerns that arise, Paly’s new phone policy will become more effective in its goal of ensuring concentration in classrooms, setting a standard that will undoubtedly benefit future classes. 

In a few years, the buzz of phone notifications during class may become even more of an exception to the norm.