This article is one of a series of articles produced by Word in Black through support provided by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Word In Black is a collaborative of 10 Black-owned media outlets across the country.
By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Schools across Washington state and the nation are moving to restrict cell phone use during the school day to support student learning and mental health. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) recently released a guidance document urging Washington schools to update their cell phone policies by the 2025–26 school year with the goal is to reduce distractions, improve concentration, and create a healthier school environment.
“Reducing the use of cell phones in class improves concentration and learning, improves mental and physical health, and reduces pressures caused by social media,” says State Superintendent Chris Reykdal in the guidance document.
The push for stricter cell phone policies comes amid rising concern over the impact of technology on students. A 2022 Pew Research Center study revealed that 95% of teenagers now have smartphones, up from 73% in 2014–15. In response, OSPI called on educators nationwide to limit student access to cell phones during instructional time to reduce distractions, and to provide the optimal environment for student learning.
More recently, a 2024 survey by the National Education Association found that 79% of educators in schools that allow cell phones consider them very disruptive to learning. To combat these disruptions, 90% of educators said they would support policies restricting cell phone use during class.
Zachary Stowell, Principal at Robert Eagle Middle School in Seattle, says that the high percentage of teenagers with smartphones in schools is at a crisis level. He believes that educators nationwide should utilize guidance for this issue. According to Stowell, cell phones are a significant disruption in classrooms and implementing stricter cell phone policies could benefit both students and teachers.
Stowell recalls a school camp experience with eighth graders where he temporarily collected their cell phones to try out a new strategy, and says the results were transformative.
“We took all of their phones, put them in a box, and gave them back at the end of the camp,” says Stowell. “When we got back on the ferry after the three nights at camp, the kids were completely different. They told me that they didn’t have to live in fear of someone taking a picture of them when cell phones are around.”
“I say this to say, that it may not be 100% possible but it is going to allow the kids that have typically done pretty well to be able to not have the notification distractions, and live in fear of photos being taken of them,” he added.
Larry Delaney, President of the Washington Education Association, believes that cellphone policies are a critical tool to help enhance learning in today’s educational environment.
“We know that students succeed when they can focus on learning,” said Larry Delaney, President of the Washington Education Association. “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.”
Joel Aune, Executive Director of the Washington Association of School Administrators, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of healthy habits.
“We want our students to develop healthy habits and digital citizenship skills that will serve them well in the future,” says Aune. “I am confident that school and district leaders will be thoughtful about implementing policies that support learning and well-being for all students.”
While some may believe that restricting cellphone usage in schools is a little extreme, the guidance issued buy OSPI does allow for exceptions. For example, accommodations can be made when devices are necessary for a lesson plan or when students with disabilities require a device as specified in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). However, the policy also seeks to reassure students and parents that technology provided by the school is sufficient for educational purposes.
“Every student has a brand-new laptop this year assigned to them, with things like Microsoft Suite and GoGuardian,” Stowell explained. “GoGuardian allows staff to monitor and scaffold students to kind of stay on task on their laptops. When we don’t have those restrictions or oversight kids will push the boundaries to the extent of support.”
Stowell believes that the new policy could significantly increase the percentage of student success and test scores in schools. He added, “Yes. Hard yes, this policy has the potential to do so.”
In his guidance, Reykdal is challenging school leaders to revise and enforce their own cell phone policies, to help support students’ mental health and prepare them for success in our digital world, and says that OSPI is working to integrate media literacy and digital citizenship into the state’s learning standards for English language arts.
Stowell believes his approach is effective and a good model for other schools to adopt.
“Students will have a pouch where they can keep it on themselves, and we will intervene as we see fit,” says Stowell. “If a student doesn’t turn in the phone right away and puts their heels in the sand, teachers are instructed to fill out a behavior form, because at that point there is something greater going on, and it is really not about the phone, it is about a position of power.”
“I wouldn’t have tried this intervention if I didn’t think that it was going to have a positive impact,” he continued. “We are committed, we are trying, and it will absolutely have a positive impact, and I believe the kids think so as well.”
