Celia Jiménez here, thinking about the rush parents and children are feeling this week as school gets back in session.
Some students, including those attending Monterey Peninsula Unified and Alisal Union school districts, returned to classes today, Aug. 5, while others, including Carmel Unified and Salinas City Elementary, will return tomorrow, Aug. 6.
A new school year means changes for students, either advancing to a new grade or going to school for the first time—and also following new policies.
The Phone-Free School Act, or Assembly Bill 3216, required school districts, charter schools and county offices of education to adopt policies to limit or prohibit the use of smartphones by July 1, 2026.
“This new law will help students focus on academics, social development and the world in front of them, not their screens, when they’re in school,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in 2024 when he signed the bill into law.
Moving phones away from students' hands has proven successful at Salinas Union High School District. The district designated its middle schools cell-phone-free campuses as part of a pilot program in 2024, and in April it built upon the program.
I’ve talked to some teachers about the policy, who have shared that it has improved the school environment with more social interactions and fewer fights and conflicts among students.
Beyond smartphones, districts are also in the process of implementing and adapting the use of AI in the classroom.
This school year, Pacific Grove Unified School District is rolling out its educational technology plan. It includes digital safety, AI integration (for students, only available for high schoolers) and recommended screen times for students based on their age. Teachers will include in their syllabus whether they will have AI-driven assignments and if they use it for grading.
SUHSD is in the process of adopting AI policies this month.
In many ways, technology, including AI, has changed the way many of us research or perform everyday tasks; the challenge for educators is how to do it in a way that prepares students for the future while gaining new skills.
I’m skeptical about AI as an educational tool, but only time and testing will tell what the best approach is for the next generation.