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Vista: Unified Podcast addresses cell phone rules

Vista Unified’s New Cellphone Policy Meets With Success

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Cell Phone Use

Vista Unified school district recently implemented new rules limiting cellphone use across all campuses from elementary through high school; the new policy has been met with resounding success. In fact, the latest regulations have been embraced by not only staff and students’ families but by students themselves.

The new rules have been designed in response to the growing concern among educators and parents that increased cellphone and social media use is impacting children’s mental health and wellbeing. 

The widespread concern led to Governor Gavin Newsom sign the Phone-Free School Act (Assembly Bill 3216) on September 23 this year. The Act requires every school district, charter school and county office of education in California to develop a policy limiting the use of smartphones by July 1, 2026.

During a recent episode of the Vista: Unified Podcast, VUSD Superintendent Dr. Matthew Doyle spoke of the urgency: “Our district has joined hundreds of schools, districts, and organizations across the county and nation in addressing the growing dependency on phones.”

He was joined by Dr Cheree McKean, Executive Director of Student Support Services from VUSD, who was involved in devising the new rules: “After seeing the challenges students were going through when they had their cellphones out, we decided to shift our thinking to creating cellphone-free schools and classrooms.” 

Device Free Zone

Policy Adjusts for Various Grade Levels
It began in TK through grade 8 classes, where students were not allowed to have cellphones or smart watches out of their backpacks during the school day. High school students had similar restrictions on devices in classrooms but were granted more access during non-instructional times.

“For high school we want to make sure we are educating our students to be responsible when using phones,” continues Dr. McKean. “So phones are not allowed in the classrooms but they can have them out during lunch breaks and passing periods.”

McKean says research found that one of the biggest challenges was in middle school grades. “These students who bought phones to school were glued to the devices before school started, during passing periods, and at lunch; they didn’t socialize with one another. At the same time, a large amount of research was coming out showing a strong correlation between cellphones and declines in students' mental health.”

Data-Driven Research Has Informed The Policy
This research included the book The Anxious Generation, which details in-depth data on the impact of cellphone use on children’s social and mental well-being. Dr. McKean says the book was influential in developing the new rules and the district purchased over 200 copies to share with staff and administrators.

“We wanted everyone to have an idea of the impact of cell phones and what they might be doing to our students’ mental health,” she says. This includes how digital environments can foster isolation, addiction, and fragmented attention, and replace real-world interactions that are crucial for emotional development.

Dr. Doyle also credits the book: “I was surprised how accurate it is from what I’m seeing with students. We’ve had this new set of rules in play for a month and a half and I’ve already had many parents thank me. They are already seeing some changes at home.”

So how have the new rules impacted life on campus?

Campus Impact

The Impact on Campuses 
“I recently visited a middle school that last year had really loose guidelines on cellphones compared with this year’s new guidelines,” says Dr. McKean. “It was an amazing transformation. Students were talking with one another and there was this sense of calm that didn’t exist the year before. They have rapidly adjusted to the change and we’re now seeing happier students on campus.”

Jeremy Walden, Principal of Mission Vista High School adds: “So far so good. Many parents have pulled me aside to thank me. In classrooms, I’m seeing deeper levels of engagement. But what stands out to me most is the student-to-student collaboration, with richer conversations happening.”

He tells of one student who struggled academically last year, regularly getting D and F grades. Now he is getting predominately As.

“I asked him one simple question,” says Walden. “’ What changed?’ And he said: ‘The cellphone rule. It’s no longer a distraction and I can focus on my school work.’ That was pretty powerful.”

Walden also says the discipline rate from interpersonal conflict, including bullying and harassment through social media, has been at an all-time low since implementing the new rules. “At break time students can have their phones but many are choosing not to,” he adds. “They are talking and engaging - being kids again.” 

And it’s not just at school where the change is happening. As Dr. McKean sums it up: “As kids become unplugged, we’re finding they want to plug in with the people they care most about. So we want to make sure we work with families on creating these rules that are going to help at school and home.”