This school year, the Las Virgenes Unified School District decided to implement a new policy regarding cell phones, which has sparked controversy among students, staff, and parents about its effects and performance. The new rule, nicknamed the “Off-and-Away Policy,” has been executed at all fifteen campuses and requires students to keep their phones off and in their bags from the first bell of the school day to the last. Not only this, but smartwatches and any other mobile devices must abide by the policy as well. All of this is in an effort to “foster a more engaging learning environment, reduce cyberbullying, and encourage face-to-face interactions among students.”
Many students at Agoura High, including upperclassmen who in previous years have had constant access to cellular devices during the school day, have expressed frustration and criticism towards this new procedure. In the past, cell phones were used to receive reminders from clubs and school organizations, contact parents, and communicate with friends during breaks. They were also often applied as valuable learning tools in the classroom. We asked a few of our fellow Charger students about the reasoning behind their stance on the new policy.
“A big part of why students want phones in school is to stay updated on school program updates and keep connected with friends. After all, this is high school, and I think we should have more freedom as teenagers. Banning phones also prevents students from communicating with their parents about schedule changes and rides after school.” – Ady Baron, a freshman class officer
“Restricting cell phones makes students want to sneakily use them even more. When you tell kids not to do something, it encourages them to cheat the rules, making the problem even worse.” – Melody Keyvani, a freshman and a member of the JV girls tennis team
“The intentions behind the new policy are reasonable, but I feel like it’s unnecessary to ban cellphones during break time. Now, we don’t even have cellphones for academic purposes, like taking pictures of important information from class and referring to it later.” – Judy Pei, a sophomore on the LVUSD Youth Council, where she speaks up about opinions regarding events going on in our school district, like the Off & Away Policy
Although many students argue about the benefits of allowing cell phone usage during school hours, a handful of students support the new policy and appreciate its goals for the students of LVUSD.
“Whether people like it or not, phone addiction is an obvious problem with teens, and the criticism against the new policy proves exactly why a ban should be in place.”
– Dominic Calderon, a freshman JV football player
So, is the Off-and-Away policy really useful? Beneficial? Pointless, as some students may say, even? That’s certainly up for debate. Since LVUSD hasn’t indicated any plans of changing this policy yet, for now, students will have to learn to adapt and grow in a cell phone-free school environment.
Sources:
“Mobile Device Policy.” Las Virgenes Unified School District, www.lvusd.org/parents/mobile-device-policy. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
