OSPI calls for cell phone limits at school

OLYMPIA — To support student learning and mental health, schools across the state and nation are updating their policies to restrict cell phone use during the school day, according to an announcement from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

According to a 2022 study by the Pew Research Center, 95% of teenagers have a smartphone, compared to 73% in 2014-15, according to the announcement. Educators nationwide have called for support in limiting student access to cell phones during instructional time to reduce distractions and provide the optimal environment for student learning.

In a 2024 survey, the National Education Association found that 79% of educators who teach in schools that allow cell phones find it to be very disruptive. Further, 90% of educators surveyed said they would support cell phone policies that restricted students’ use of cell phones during instructional time.

On Wednesday, OSPI published a brief for Washington’s schools on cell phone policies, advocating for school leaders to plan to update their policies by the start of the 2025–26 school year. School leaders are encouraged to work with their communities over the next year to create a plan that will work best for their local context.

“Reducing the use of cell phones in class improves concentration and learning, improves mental and physical health, and reduces pressures caused by social media,” State Superintendent Chris Reykdal wrote in the guidance document.

Instead of relying on individual educators to adopt their own policy around cell phones, OSPI’s guidance encourages schools to implement uniform, school-wide policies to create ongoing and consistent expectations for students, staff, and families, the announcement said.

Districts are encouraged to consider exceptions to school-wide policies when an educator is using devices as part of a lesson plan, according to the announcement. Further, school policies must not prohibit students with disabilities from using a device to support their learning as identified by their Individualized Education Program or IEP team.

“We know that students succeed when they can focus on learning,” Larry Delaney, president of the Washington Education Association, wrote in the announcement. “These policies provide educators with support to create better learning environments and is a step forward in creating safer and healthier schools for our students.”

School policies governing cell phone use in the classroom are most effective when paired with other strategies to support student mental health and to prepare students to use digital media in safe and healthy ways.

"Our aim is for students to be engaged and attentive in the classroom, and we recognize the significant distraction that cell phones can pose,” Joel Aune, executive director of the Washington Association of School Administrators, wrote in the announcement. “We want our students to develop healthy habits and digital citizenship skills that will serve them well in the future. I am confident that school and district leaders will be thoughtful about implementing policies that support learning and well-being for all students."

Technology is a critical part of student learning, OSPI wrote In partnership with educators across the state, OSPI is working to integrate media literacy and digital citizenship into the state’s learning standards for English language arts. Students are also learning safe and ethical ways to use artificial intelligence to support their learning. This guidance is intended to support educators in reducing distractions during instructional time.

“Our challenge to school leaders to revise their cell phone policies is part of a broader strategy to support our students’ mental health and prepare them for success in our digital world,” Reykdal wrote.