By July 1, 2026, every school district, county office of education, and charter school had to develop and adopt policies to limit on-campus smartphone use. EVEN IT OUT Most Central Coast school district phone policies prohibit smartphone use for elementary and middle school users, but the restrictions vary across high schools. Credit: PHOTO BY PIETER SAAYMANWhile parents in San Luis Obispo County welcomed the requirement, many want robust and consistent enforcement. In South County’s Lucia Mar Unified School District, high schoolers can only use electronics during lunch and other breaks. “They mentioned different things like sexting, sextortion, being approached in middle school and high school through social media and [being offered] drugs,” Salas said.