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Two of the fabric pouches from Yondr used to lock up cellphones at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School. (GeekWire File Photo / Lisa Stiffler)
School districts in Washington state would be required to enforce policies that restrict student use of phones under a new bill proposed Monday.
The bill aims to combat a “multitude of negative effects on student outcomes” due to the use of mobile devices and follows recent efforts at a handful of Washington state schools to ban phones during the academic day.
The bill cites the impact of phones on student learning and mental health. It cites distractions, reduced academic performance, and increased risks of cyberbullying.
Districts around the nation are experimenting with various forms of restrictions as educators try to rein in the widespread use of smartphones on campus.
Educators have a long list of reasons for wanting phone-free policies, but formal research is limited on the impacts of school smartphone use and the effects of bans.
Reps. Liz Berry (D), Mari Leavitt (D), and Stephanie McClintock (R) introduced the bill, which would go into effect for the 2026-27 school year. The bill includes exceptions for emergencies, disabilities, English learners, health conditions, or specific instructional needs.
Under the proposal, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) would issue a report to the legislature by Dec. 15, summarizing current policies and recommending strategies for restricting mobile device use. Recommendations may include limiting device use to specific times, places, or activities and requiring devices to be stored securely during class.
In August, the head of OPSI issued a notice to the state’s districts encouraging them to come up with plans for controlling students’ use of cellphones.
Nationally, Louisiana and South Carolina have laws banning cellphone use during the school day, while Florida prohibits the devices during instructional time, according to Education Week. Other states are requesting or pursuing restrictions.
Strategies for preventing phone use include placing the devices in locked pouches such as those made by Yondr, or stowing the phones in backpacks stored in the front of a classroom or in storage containers such as hanging shoe holders hung over a door.
More than a year ago, UNESCO issued a call for leaders to restrict the use of cellphones and other technology at schools except for educational purposes. The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in May 2023 warned about the harm caused by social media and its impact on the nation’s youth mental health crisis.
In schools where bans have been approved, educators anecdotally report benefits including increased student engagement, improved mental health, and fewer discipline problems and violent behaviors.
Related: A look inside a Seattle middle school that just banned cellphone use on campus
