Berkeley High School students arrive on campus on Aug. 16, 2021. Credit: Kelly Sullivan
The Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) amended its proposed cell phone ban policy to include stricter “bell-to-bell” enforcement in middle schools, meaning that mobile devices would be prohibited for tweens in grades 6-8 during the entire school day, including passing periods and lunch.
A previous version of the draft policy had allowed middle-schoolers to use their devices on campus outside of instruction time.
The school board provided the update during a second reading of the policy at their meeting on Wednesday. Elementary school students would also still need to have phones shut off completely during the school day. High school youth would be allowed to use mobile devices, but only outside of instructional time. Exceptions will be made for emergencies and to accommodate specialized learning plans.
The amended policy also defines mobile devices to include headphones and smart watches, includes suggestions to regulate their use in school, and imposes limits based on grade level, with a district-wide blanket ban during class time.
“Cell phones are a topic that has been top of mind for many in our community, and is an ongoing larger conversation that is happening across the state,” Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel said Wednesday during the school board meeting. “There is still going to be a lot of work ahead of us that is going to require thoughtful engagement and planning, and possibly some piloting around the implementation and enforcement of the policy.”
BUSD recently conducted a district-wide survey of more than 1,600 high schoolers,1,200 middle schoolers, 250 teachers, and 20 administrators to gather input on district cell phone policies. Community engagement is required under AB 3216, also known as the Phone-Free School Act. The legislation imposed a July 2026 deadline for California schools to develop and adopt mobile device restrictions. Updates to BUSD’s policy would be effective immediately once approved by the board.
BUSD student-teacher surveys reveal enforcement challenges at all grade levels
The BUSD community strongly agreed that phones distract students and staff, according to survey results.
At the elementary schools, mobile device policies are most consistently enforced, with community members showing overwhelming support for the bans, district leaders said Wednesday. Nearly 80% of elementary teachers said cell phone use is not a major challenge in class, but other internet-capable devices like smart watches pose larger concerns, according to the presentation.
At the middle school level, “many” community members oppose a full cell phone ban, citing the need to be in contact with family, in case of emergencies, and medical needs, according to a district presentation. By this age, a majority of students own a mobile device, and issues that come with cell phone use become more apparent.
BUSD staff said challenges at Berkeley middle schools include monitoring the use of smart watches and texts from parents during school hours. Inconsistent enforcement confuses kids and builds resentment toward teachers with stricter rules, said staff. Educators and board members asked for administrative support to enforce district policies and for clear consequences for students with repeated violations, without resorting to suspensions.
District staff acknowledged middle school students are in a “unique stage of development,” where kids seek more autonomy and independence, but are still “young enough to struggle with impulse control and self-regulation.”
Fewer than half of educators said cell phones are a major challenge in middle school classes. Concerns include creating distractions during class, temptations to cheat, and online bullying.
Students surveyed expressed concern that they would lose access to useful phone apps like calculators and maps for directions. The survey also indicated that youth see non-instructional time as “their time” to use technology for music or to communicate with classmates.
Different challenges impact Berkeley High, where enforcement varies teacher-to-teacher, district staff pointed out on Wednesday. The BHS open campus policy (which allows students on and off campus throughout the day) and its population of more than 3,000 students make uniform enforcement difficult, according to the presentation. Some students even use “burner phones” to avoid enforcement, turning in a second phone and keeping their own, staff said.
Although some high school students acknowledged an inability to focus and eye strain when using phones, many surveyed said it should be their responsibility to self-regulate, as older kids.
Morthel on Wednesday acknowledged the need for a slightly more relaxed policy for high schoolers.
“The policy aims to balance developmentally appropriate flexibility for high school students who may have jobs or non-traditional parenting needs while ensuring learning is not disrupted,” Morthel said Wednesday. Other types of personal use deemed legitimate could include medical needs, calendaring, checking email and banking or payment apps.
The school board approved the policy with amendments, asking that district staff return before the end of the school year with an update. Staff said student, teacher and family engagement is ongoing to address needs at specific grade levels.
Community members attended Wednesday’s meeting to voice concerns over cell phone and technology use during school. Parents and teachers cited mental health challenges, reduced attention in class, and loss of social interaction.
“Phones do not belong in schools, not at any grade level, not in the bathrooms, not at passing periods, not on any campus time,” Reichi Lee, parent to a 9th-grader at BHS and a 7th-grader at King Middle School, said during public comment.
Others urged BUSD leadership to consider student well-being, teacher workloads, and family needs when drafting the policy. Michelle Wolfson, who is a parent to an 11th-grader at BHS, spoke during public comment in support of allowing students to use mobile devices between classes.
“Berkeley High School is a huge campus and cell phones are how students locate friends for lunch or club meetings, they contact their counselors, their teachers, and check their email for appointments,” she said. “Teachers have enough to manage without turning into cell phone cops.”
Some parents also asked for flexibility in after-school programs and during extracurricular activities. Concerns were expressed about equitable implementation, enforcement burdens on teachers, and compliance from parents, staff and students.
District staff said the policy will be reviewed again before the end of the school year, with new survey results and feedback implemented into the report. A webinar, which will offer language interpretation, will be hosted on Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. A dedicated webpage with information and resources for families is also forthcoming.
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