Phone-Free Schools in San Diego: SDUSD Cell Phone Policy
San Diego Unified School District serves about 95,000 students in San Diego, California. California’s phone-free school law, AB 3216, has been in effect since July 1, 2026.
- Location
- San Diego, California
- San Diego County
- Enrollment
- About 95,000 students
- San Diego area
San Diego Unified School District, the second-largest district in California, is a public school district headquartered in San Diego, California (San Diego County), serving approximately 95,000 students across the San Diego area. Like every district in California, its cell phone rules are shaped by state law — and by how well the policy is actually enforced on each campus.
Does SDUSD ban cell phones?
Yes. California law (AB 3216 (2024), Phone-Free School Act) requires districts to restrict student personal-device use (a locally written policy that limits or prohibits student smartphone use at school or while under staff supervision; each district decides how far it goes), so the district must have a written phone policy.
For the full statute, scope, effective date, and primary sources, see our guide to California's phone-free school law, part of our phone-free school laws by state directory.
Enforcing a phone-free day across San Diego
California leaves the enforcement method to local districts.
Three enforcement models districts choose from
- Physical pouches (e.g., Yondr): a per-student cost that recurs as pouches are lost or damaged, plus daily hand-out and unlocking at every campus.
- District storage (lockers, caddies, classroom bins): low hardware cost, but it relies on staff to police compliance period after period.
- Device-level software (such as LockedIn): locks the phone students already carry during school hours, with no pouches to hand out.
LockedIn, which publishes this page, makes software that locks students' own phones during the school day, with an admin dashboard and no pouches or hardware. Where a state requires phones to be stored away from students, it works alongside that storage rather than replacing it. Compare the options in our phone-free school solutions comparison or the LockedIn vs. Yondr breakdown, and model the math with our pouch-vs-software cost calculator.
What SDUSD schools can do next
Draft a policy with our free phone-free school policy generator, or contact our team for a quote. Title I schools in California may also qualify for subsidized access.
Explore other California school districts or browse phone-free school coverage by district.
Frequently asked questions
Does SDUSD have a cell phone ban?
Yes. California law (AB 3216 (2024), Phone-Free School Act) requires districts to restrict student personal-device use (a locally written policy that limits or prohibits student smartphone use at school or while under staff supervision; each district decides how far it goes), so the district must have a written phone policy.
What is California's school cell phone law?
California's Phone-Free School Act (AB 3216) required every school district, county office of education and charter school to adopt a policy limiting or prohibiting student smartphone use by July 1, 2026. It is not a statewide ban: each district sets the scope. See our full California guide for the statute, scope, effective date, and exceptions.
How can San Diego-area schools enforce a phone-free day?
Schools generally choose physical pouches (like Yondr), district-managed storage, or device-level software like LockedIn that locks the phone students already carry during school hours. Each district picks the method; check SDUSD's student handbook for the one it uses.
How much does LockedIn cost for a district like SDUSD?
LockedIn is priced per student, per year, and quoted per school or district based on enrollment and rollout — there are no pouches or hardware to buy and no per-unit replacement costs. Contact us for a written quote and a side-by-side comparison against a pouch program. Qualifying Title I schools may receive subsidized or fully covered access.