Your teen goes to Westminster or Fountain Valley High? Phones are now off during class, and the school can take one away

What happened on September 15

The Board of Trustees of the Huntington Beach Union High School District, HBUHSD for short, met at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at the district office, 5832 Bolsa Avenue in Huntington Beach. HBUHSD runs the public high schools for Huntington Beach, Westminster and Fountain Valley: Westminster High, Fountain Valley High, Huntington Beach High, Edison, Marina, Ocean View, Valley Vista and Coast. Superintendent Carolee Ogata told the board on August 11 that the district was welcoming more than 13,000 students this year.

Item VII-A on the agenda was Board Policy 5131.8, "Students — Mobile Communication Devices," up for its second reading, which is the adoption vote. The first reading passed unanimously on August 11, 2026. The district does not livestream its meetings, and minutes are posted only with the next meeting's packet. The vote count from September 15 was not in the public record when this story was published. The district's online policy manual, however, already lists BP 5131.8 with a "last revised" date of September 15, 2026. Bolsa Bridge will update this story with the vote when the district releases it.

The same night, Rocky Murray, assistant superintendent of educational services, presented how schools will put the policy into practice. That presentation was not included in the meeting packet.

The five-member board is President Bonnie Castrey and trustees Diana Carey, Duane Dishno, Susan Henry and Christine Hernandez.

What the policy says

The full policy runs four pages, at pages 156–159 of the board packet. In plain terms, it does four things.

One: phones off during instructional time. The exact words: "Mobile communication devices shall be turned off during instructional time." Off, not silent.

Two: allowed during noninstructional time. Students may use phones outside class "as long as the device is utilized in accordance with law and any applicable school rules." The policy does not define noninstructional time. Each school sets that in its own rules, so ask your school.

Three: the district can go further. The superintendent or a designee may take additional steps to limit student access to phones on campus, under Education Code 48901.7. No specific measures were spelled out in the packet.

Four: no using a phone to violate someone else's privacy. The policy states this as a single sentence, with no examples.

Four times a student can still use a phone

State law requires every district policy to keep four exceptions, and HBUHSD's policy lists all four, citing Education Code 48901.5 and 48901.7.

First, in an emergency, or in response to a perceived threat of danger.

Second, when a teacher or administrator gives permission, within whatever limits they set.

Third, when a licensed physician or surgeon says the student needs the device for their health.

Fourth, when the student's IEP requires it. An IEP, or individualized education program, is the plan for a student receiving special education services.

What happens when a student breaks the rule

This is the section parents should read twice. The policy says five things.

Discipline is on the table, under law, board policy and administrative regulation.

Staff may temporarily confiscate the device. They must store it securely, then return it to the student or turn it over to the principal "as appropriate." The policy does not say how long a phone can be held or whether a parent must pick it up. Those details belong to each school.

No searching the phone without parental consent, with three exceptions: a lawfully issued warrant; a school official's good-faith belief that an emergency involving danger of death or serious injury requires access; or a search otherwise allowed under Penal Code 1546.1.

Off-campus use can be disciplined too, if it poses a threat to the safety of students, staff or district property, or substantially disrupts school activities.

Lost, stolen or damaged phones are not the district's responsibility.

Why this policy, and why now

In 2024, California passed AB 3216, the Phone-Free School Act, signed by the governor on September 23, 2024. It requires every school district, charter school and county office of education to adopt a policy that limits or bans smartphone use while students are at school or under school supervision. The deadline was July 1, 2026. The law also requires districts to review the policy at least every five years. HBUHSD's policy tracks both requirements.

The packet describes the item as a revision of an existing policy, not a brand-new one. The first reading took place on August 11, after the state's July 1 deadline. The packet does not explain the timing.

Also on August 11, the board said it was reviewing every district policy with the California School Boards Association, with final adoption planned for November 11, 2026. The board waived the second-reading requirement for routine policies through the end of 2026. BP 5131.8 was not treated as routine: it went through both readings.

What neighboring districts do

A Westminster family can have kids in three different districts. High schoolers attend HBUHSD or Garden Grove Unified (GGUSD), depending on the address. Younger kids attend Westminster School District (WSD) or GGUSD.

Voice of OC reported on July 27, 2026, that GGUSD already complies with the state law, with phones "turned off in class for all grade levels." La Quinta High in Westminster is a GGUSD school, so that rule applies there. Bolsa Bridge could not locate WSD's policy for its elementary and middle schools.

What's next

Three things to watch.

School-site rules. The district policy leaves the details open: when phones are allowed, how long they can be held, who picks them up. Ask your school directly.

A review at least every five years, with "significant stakeholder participation." Parents and students are stakeholders.

Upcoming board meetings: October 13, November 10 and December 15, 2026, all at 5832 Bolsa Avenue.

The district and each school, not the state, decide how this works day to day. State law only sets the frame.

Want to weigh in? The board meets at 6 p.m. at the district office, 5832 Bolsa Avenue, Huntington Beach. To speak, fill out the yellow card at the board room entrance and hand it to the board secretary before the meeting starts. Each speaker gets three minutes. If more than three people sign up on one topic, the first ten are heard, for up to 30 minutes total. Meetings are not livestreamed. For disability accommodations, email cthomas@hbuhsd.edu by 4 p.m. on the Monday before the meeting. General questions:
HBUHSD district office (714) 903-⁠7000