Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

3 hours ago

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

4 hours ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

7 hours ago

Elon Musk Says Senate Bill Would Destroy Jobs and Harm US

7 hours ago

Israel Strikes Pound Gaza, Killing 60, Ahead of US Talks on Ceasefire

9 hours ago

Trump’s Administration Finds Harvard Violated Students’ Civil Rights, WSJ Reports

9 hours ago

How Did the Supreme Court Rule? Here’s a Look at the Big Cases

2 days ago
Clovis Unified Doubles Down on Cellphone Restrictions. Will Other Local Districts Follow?
NANCY WEBSITE HEADSHOT 1
By Nancy Price, Multimedia Journalist
Published 11 months ago on
August 13, 2024

Studies show cellphone use hurts students' academic performance and emotional well-being. (GV Wire Composite/David Rodriguez)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants schools to tell students it’s time to hang up their cellphones at school. On Tuesday, he renewed his urging that districts restrict students’ smartphone use to improve academic outcomes.

But the issue is still being worked out in some Fresno-area schools.

California is just catching up to Clovis Unified School District, which for several years has had a policy restricting cellphone use for intermediate and high school students, and pretty much banning it for elementary students, spokeswoman Kelly Avants said Tuesday.

The policy bans students from using smartphones unless a teacher allows it for educational purposes. They are not to be used in restrooms, locker rooms, or other spaces where students should expect privacy. They are not to be used to record audio or video content for social media.

Bad Grades, Bad Behavior

The district cites a Rutgers University-News Brunswick study that found personal use of cellphones by students during class not only leads to lower grades for them but also for other students.

In addition, a study by Danish researchers published last month found that when students’ screen time for non-school-related uses is restricted to three hours a week, the students’ mental well-being and behavior improved significantly after just two weeks.

“Last spring we started looking at that just in light of some of the conversations that have been happening around the state, and in light of the body of science that’s now becoming available related to cellphone impacts, to the use of electronic devices, in the classroom and their impact on learning,” Avants said. “And so we’d already made plans to just double down on enforcement of our existing policies and make sure that we’re real consistent.”

The “doubling down” begins with the start of the new school year on Monday, when students, parents, and teachers will be reminded of the cellphone policy and the ramifications of violating it.

“I will admit that we have allowed schools and individual teachers to manage that policy enforcement on their own,” Avants said. “And I think over time, as it just became so prevalent, we were not being consistent in following our policy. So the policy didn’t need to be updated, we just needed to update our awareness of it.”

There’s no outright ban on having a cellphone at school for Clovis Unified secondary students, who can still have access in the event of an emergency, she said.

Bullard High School made headlines in November 2022 when Principal Armen Torigian required students to store their phones in locked bags during the school day,(GV Wire Composite/File)

FUSD Officials Working on Policy

Meanwhile, Fresno Unified will start the new school year with individual schools determining cellphone restrictions, Interim Superintendent Misty Her said. District officials are in the process of reviewing and formulating a districtwide policy, but for now it will be up to schools to work with students, parents, and staff, she said.

Bullard High School made headlines in November 2022 when Principal Armen Torigian required students to store their phones in locked bags during the school day, but that controversy seems to have died down.

Phoenix Secondary also has restricted cellphone use in school by students for some time, Her said.

She said she is in agreement that cell phone use has been detrimental for students both academically and social-emotionally, but slamming on the brakes is not the answer.

The district is reviewing policies in other districts in California, the U.S., and even worldwide as it develops its own policy using best practices, Her said.

In the meantime, schools will continue to call the shots on cellphone restrictions, she said.

Central Unified School District did not respond to an email query before this story’s publication Tuesday afternoon.

Clovis Unified Policy

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

DON'T MISS

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

DON'T MISS

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

DON'T MISS

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

DON'T MISS

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

DON'T MISS

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

DON'T MISS

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

DON'T MISS

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

DON'T MISS

DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme

UP NEXT

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

UP NEXT

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

UP NEXT

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

UP NEXT

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

UP NEXT

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

UP NEXT

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

UP NEXT

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

UP NEXT

DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor

Nancy Price,
Multimedia Journalist
Nancy Price is a multimedia journalist for GV Wire. A longtime reporter and editor who has worked for newspapers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Kansas, Nancy joined GV Wire in July 2019. She previously worked as an assistant metro editor for 13 years at The Fresno Bee. Nancy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her hobbies include singing with the Fresno Master Chorale and volunteering with Fresno Filmworks. You can reach Nancy at 559-492-4087 or Send an Email

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

1 hour ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

2 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

2 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

2 hours ago

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

2 hours ago

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

2 hours ago

DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme

2 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor

2 hours ago

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

3 hours ago

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

3 hours ago

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

An 86-year-old Fresno woman was killed Monday in a head-on collision in southeast Fresno County, according to the California Highway Patrol....

17 minutes ago

fresno
17 minutes ago

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

1 hour ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

Bryan Koberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, listens during a hearing to overturn his grand jury indictment in Moscow, Idaho, U.S., October 26, 2023. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

The Blanca Fire, burning 12 acres northwest of Lake Madera Country Estates in Madera County, remains active with 0% containment and no reported injuries or structural damage as the cause is under investigation as of Monday, June 30, 2025. (CalFire)
2 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

Fresno County CHP arrested two on Interstate 5 after finding about one kilogram of suspected cocaine, a loaded ghost gun, and counterfeit money during a vehicle search on Sunday, June 29, 2025. (CHP)
2 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

Gov. Newsom warns Californians to celebrate the Fourth of July safely, emphasizing zero tolerance for illegal fireworks which have surged to over 600,000 pounds seized this year. (Shutterstock)
2 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

President Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend