Limiting Cell Phones in Schools: Superintendent Reykdal's Guidance

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The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction announced on Wednesday it has provided local school district leaders additional pointers on how to limit cell phone use during classtime.

School districts will write up their rules on phone usage by the start of the 2025-26 school year in line with a brief issued by the OSPI.

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

A 2022 study by the Pew Research Center found 36% of teen students reported spending too much time on social media (primarily TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.

According to a 2024 survey from the National Education Association, 79% of teachers from districts that permit cell phones found them to be very disruptive and 90% of educators surveyed said they would support policies that restricted cell phone usage during class time.

OSPI officials say districts are encouraged to exempt instructional devices essential to lesson plans or those assisting students with disabilities.

"Our aim is for students to be engaged and attentive in the classroom, and we recognize the significant distraction that cell phones can pose,” said Joel Aune, Executive Director of the Washington Association of School Administrators. “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."