As the state’s superintendent and governor both push for a statewide ban on cellphone use during the school day, a new survey shows that less than a third of Washington school districts don’t have policies limiting phone use.
Thirty-one percent of the districts, charter schools and tribal compact schools that responded to a spring survey by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction said they did not have a districtwide mobile device policy, but in some, schools could set their own rules. Statewide, 58% of school districts have some sort of cellphone policy, according to the survey data released Wednesday. Just 2% of respondents had no mobile device policy at all.
The new data lands as states and districts ramp up efforts to restrict cellphone use in schools to increase the focus on learning, reduce classroom distractions and respond to concerns about student well-being. The state’s largest school district, Seattle Public Schools, in May enacted a policy barring cellphones in elementary and middle schools, and limiting their use in high school.
The OSPI survey garnered responses from 260 Washington school districts, charters and state-tribal education compact schools.
Nearly 38 states and the District of Columbia have laws that curb or prohibit cellphone use in schools, according to tracking by Education Week, a national publication that focuses on K-12 education. Some apply statewide, while others permit districts to set their own rules.
Gov. Bob Ferguson and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal plan to propose “away for the day” bills in next year’s legislative session. Ferguson’s proposal would ban mobile devices, which include cellphones and smartwatches, from the first bell to the last.
Reykdal’s would require that students store their devices — or leave them at home — for the entire school day.
Both proposals will have exemptions, including for students who need the devices for documented health reasons and as part of their education plans.
Reykdal’s proposal will also include exemption for in-classroom use when designated by a teacher and in emergencies.
Policies restricting cellphones have garnered strong support from teachers and parents, though some parents worry about the ability to contact their children during emergencies.
Studies have shown that cellphone use decreases when schools adopt such policies. One of the largest studies published this year found that use dropped but suspensions increased in the year after the policies were adopted. The study did not find significant academic gains.
In the recent OSPI survey, 57% of the districts with policies restricting mobile device use said disruptions declined during class, and half said student engagement rose. Forty percent of those with policies said student interactions increased, according to OSPI.
“What we hear from students, families, and educators is that this kind of policy is most effective when it is implemented consistently,” Reykdal said in a media release. “From all schools within the district to all classes within the school, there are fewer hurdles when the expectations for students are clear and uniform.”
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