Thursday marked back-to-school day for the South Bay's largest public school district.

This new school year brings a big change for the thousands of students in the San Jose Unified School District. They have to keep their phones off and out of sight for the entire school day.

Last year some San Jose Unified students were required to stow their phones in a so-called phone caddy. But this year students and families received a notice highlighting a stricter policy.

The notice says students are not allowed to use phones during the school day – 7:30 a.m. to 4:20 p.m., including the lunch hour. The rule applies not only to classrooms but just about any location on campus, including restrooms and hallways. The phones have to be powered off and put away.

NBC Bay Area's Robert Handa has more i

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