Students in the Oakland Unified School District returned to class Monday under a stricter cellphone policy that bars students from using phones during class, between classes and lunch.
Students can leave their phones in a single lockbox in the classroom or place them in a secure, lockable bag they carry throughout the school day. The bags are unlocked at dismissal.
The policy took effect on the first day of school for Oakland Unified students.
District officials have emphasized that cellphone usage in schools is a big reason why students are distracted from their classwork. Social media can also lead to conflicts between students like cyberbullying. Cellphones are also known to hinder students’ social and interpersonal development skills.
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