WASHINGTON – Washington State School Superintendent Chris Reykdal released new guidelines Wednesday calling on Washington schools to limit cell phone use during class to improve student learning and mental health.

The guidelines suggest that school leaders develop policies by the 2025–26 school year to create consistent expectations for students, staff and families.

A 2022 Pew Research Center study found that 95% of teens own smartphones, up from 73% in 2014-15. In response to growing concerns about the impact of cell phones on education, the National Education Association reported in a 2024 survey that 79% of educators at schools where cell phones are allowed find them disruptive. In addition, 90% of educators surveyed said they would support limits on cell phone use during class time.

In a 2024 survey, the National Education Association found that 79% of educators who teach in schools where cell phones are allowed find them very disruptive.

“Reducing mobile phone use in class improves concentration and learning, strengthens mental and physical health, and reduces the pressure caused by social media,” Reykdal said in the guide.

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) recommends that schools implement uniform policies rather than leaving it up to individual educators. The policies allow for exceptions when using devices in lesson plans and ensure that students with disabilities can use devices according to their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

Larry Delaney, president of the Washington Education Association, praised the guidelines, saying, “These guidelines support educators in creating better learning environments and are a step forward in creating safer and healthier schools for our students.”

The guidelines also emphasize the importance of combining mobile phone restrictions with strategies to support students’ mental health and digital citizenship.

Joel Aune, executive director of the Washington Association of School Administrators, added, “We want our students to develop healthy habits and digital citizenship skills that will serve them well into the future. I am confident that school and district leaders will think carefully about implementing policies that support the learning and well-being of all students.”

OSPI is working to integrate media literacy and digital citizenship into the state’s English as a Foreign Language Learning Standards, with the goal of helping students use technology safely and effectively.

Reykdal stressed that the updated cell phone policies are part of a broader initiative to support students’ mental health and prepare them for a digital world. “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,” he said.

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