A majority of school districts in Washington state will have policies in place this school year to limit students’ use of cellphones and other devices such as smart watches.
The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction released results last week from a survey that found that 75% of districts will have a policy in place by the start of the school year that limits the use of smart devices during class time. The survey found 53% of districts that will have a policy that restricts access to smart devices during instructional time only, while 31% said that devices must be put away for the entire school day.
“Our educators, parents, and families are seeing, on a daily basis, how students’ learning is disrupted — repeatedly — by their smart devices,” State Superintendent Chris Reykdal said in a news release. “As an education system, we have a responsibility to protect the learning environment, removing disruptions and ensuring our policies are updated regularly to address emerging needs.”
Reykdal first issued a call to school leaders a year ago, to come up with a plan to limit or ban the use of such devices.
The move comes amid mounting scientific and anecdotal evidence of the academic, mental health, and social harms caused to kids by cellphones and social media, and as more schools, districts and entire states are already taking action.
Seattle Public Schools, the largest K-12 school system in Washington state, previously told GeekWire that it leaves it to school administrators to set campus policies, and in May a spokesperson said the district was “evaluating whether a district wide ‘away for the day’ cellphone policy is necessary. … As part of this process, the district is conducting thorough research and analysis to understand the impact of cellphone use in schools.”
Two public middle schools in Seattle implemented restrictions last year — Hamilton International and Robert Eagle Staff both introduced Yondr pouches, which allow students to lock away their phones, limiting their use throughout school hours. Pouches can only be unlocked by school staff or at designated stations at the end of the school day.
A year into that policy at Robert Eagle Staff, GeekWire found educators and parents who said the new rules made a huge difference in limiting distractions and shifting the culture of the school. The response from students was mixed.
In a University of Washington study on the effect of cellphone policies, teachers reported feeling less stressed and said they’re more effective in the classroom without phone-related disruptions. Students said there were academic improvements when phone use was curbed, but most did not report emotional and mental-health benefits.
Oregon is among states taking a hardline stance. Gov. Tina Koteck signed an executive order this summer prohibiting cellphone use during school hours in the state’s K-12 public schools. Districts must adopt policies banning student cellphone use by Oct. 31, with full implementation required by Jan. 1, 2026.
According to Washington’s office of the superintendent, of the school districts with policies in place, 61% said that their community is satisfied with the approach the district has taken.
“Our young people are navigating a deeply connected online world where they have 24/7 access right at their fingertips,” Reykdal said last week. “There are benefits to these powerful technologies if used responsibly. There are also tremendous risks. Studies have found negative impacts on mental health, learning, sleep, and more. I’m proud of our school district leaders who are tackling this problem head-on.”
Related:
- The right call? A year after school’s phone ban, educators and parents love it, but kids aren’t so sure
- A look inside a Seattle middle school that just banned cellphone use on campus
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