OSPI NEWS RELEASE: Majority of Washington School Districts Restricting Cell Phones and Smart Devices at School

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 08/21/2025 09:30 AM PDT

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Majority of Washington School Districts Restricting Cell Phones and Smart Devices at School

OLYMPIA—August 21, 2025—In public schools across the U.S., educators report that cell phones and devices like smart watches cause disruptions to the learning environment.

A 2023 study by Common Sense Media found that young people receive hundreds of notifications to their cell phones each day, with about a quarter of those notifications coming in during the school day. Further, the data revealed that the average young person checked their phone over 100 times each day.

“Our educators, parents, and families are seeing, on a daily basis, how students’ learning is disrupted—repeatedly—by their smart devices,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. “As an education system, we have a responsibility to protect the learning environment, removing disruptions and ensuring our policies are updated regularly to address emerging needs.”

“A year ago, I challenged school district leaders across the state to adopt a policy to restrict student access to cell phones during instructional time,” Reykdal continued. “After surveying school districts this spring, we know that the vast majority (75%) will have a policy in place by the start of the school year that limits the use of smart devices during class time.”

In the survey by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), 53% of districts who will have a policy in place by the start of the school year said that their policy would restrict access to smart devices during instructional time only, while 31% said that devices must be put away for the entire school day.

“Our young people are navigating a deeply connected online world where they have 24/7 access right at their fingertips,” Reykdal continued. “There are benefits to these powerful technologies if used responsibly. There are also tremendous risks. Studies have found negative impacts on mental health, learning, sleep, and more. I’m proud of our school district leaders who are tackling this problem head-on.”

Of the school districts with policies in place, 61% said that their community is satisfied with the approach the district has taken.

For More Information

OSPI Brief: Cell Phone and Smart Device Use in Schools
2023 Common Sense Media Study: Constant Companion: A Week in the Life of a Young Person’s Smartphone Use
2024 National Education Association Survey: Cellphones, Social Media, and Mental Health

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Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.

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