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A recent survey conducted by the Sequoia Union High School District found that students overwhelmingly oppose a full ban on cell phones. School staff and parents, on the other hand, are more likely to support an all-day restriction on student phone use.
The district’s current policy on mobile devices, which was adopted in June, only restricts smartphones during instructional periods until the end of this school year. Students are allowed to use their phones during lunch and passing periods, but the policy for next school year could be different.
The policy applies to mobile devices including tablets, flip phones, smartwatches, earbuds, smart glasses and gaming devices. Personal laptops are allowed.
The district’s most recent survey collected feedback from 1,267 students, 273 staff members and 1,077 parents.
Among students, 94% said they oppose a full-day phone ban and 72% shared that they need their mobile devices to stay connected with parents and for safety. Students are also concerned that the ban would hurt morale and encourage rule-breaking.
In the survey, 79% of students said they are currently using their phones to coordinate plans, rides and schedules, and to check in with their family and friends.
They said a ban would feel “overly controlling.”
During a school board meeting on Oct. 7, members of the Student Advisory Council opposed the full ban of personal mobile devices. Student trustees from Woodside and Sequoia high schools said phones are used for connection, school notifications, safety and learning.
“In a world full of advancing technology, restricting cell phones would directly affect the social life at Woodside and also across the district,” said student Trustee Mina Burr.
Despite the current ban, staff said “enforcement is inconsistent and burdensome.” They also found that students are “glued to screens” when they are allowed to use their phones outside of the classroom, decreasing the level of socialization during breaks.
Compared to students, survey results showed that most staff support a bell-to-bell cellphone ban. Teachers think that restricting phones all day will help students build social skills and reduce distractions. However, there were some concerns for students who need their phones for jobs, parents and two-factor logins.
Staff said in the survey that students try to get around the rules in a number of ways: having decoy phones to store during class; denying they have a phone at all; and using their phones during restroom breaks.
“Staff want clearer rules, consistent enforcement,” said Jarett Dooley, executive director of student services.
In the survey, 62% of parents said they would support a full-day ban in the hope that it will increase students’ focus and face-to-face interactions as well as improve social skills. But parents said they are worried about not being able to reach their children during an emergency or to coordinate ride changes.
At Woodside High School, students are entering their fourth year with a partial cellphone ban. In 2023, the school introduced a voluntary practice for teachers who wanted to implement a phone restriction in the classroom, according to Woodside High principal Karen Van Putten.
During the 2024-25 school year, the policy became school-wide and cell phone pockets for storing devices were distributed to all classrooms. Van Putten said that in the following year, school officials finally began to see positive results of the phone ban and a shift in campus culture.
“When we create a system that gives (students) some safeguards and gives them some choice, we have found during passing period(s), lunch and brunch, that for the most part, our students are doing the right thing and they are self-monitoring,” said Van Putten.
She added that after three years, she sees more students interacting with each other during lunch and passing periods, and if they are using their phones, they’re using them to play collaborative games or to make social media videos together.
School board members also observed during campus visits that the number of students on their phones during transitional periods was minimal.
Trustees Mary Beth Thompson and Amy Koo said they would like to better understand the ongoing enforcement issues that teachers are facing. Koo asked for more information on the current enforcement practices and what lessons the district can learn from Woodside’s experiences. Assistant Superintendent Bonnie Hansen said district staff will collect more information about it.
On Nov. 18, district staff will be presenting a recommendation on a revised board policy to implement for the 2027-28 school year, if approved by the board.
