Freshmen head to classes on their first day of school at McKay High School in Salem. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
A growing body of research and teacher surveys shows student cell phone use in schools is hindering more than helping the school experience.
In response, the Oregon Department of Education issued guidance this week for districts on limiting or ending cell phone use in schools. State law requires every school district to have policies around cell phones and personal electronic devices, but each of the 197 districts in Oregon gets to set its own rules.
The education department recommended that districts develop policies in collaboration with staff, students and parents; address early on any concerns about theft, loss or damage to devices that are kept in a designated place away from students and refrain from suspending or expelling students for breaking the phone policy. The department also urged schools to teach students about media literacy, digital citizenship and responsible use of technology.
“We will be challenged to help students achieve their educational goals, like reading and math skills, if students aren’t focused on learning when they’re in school. Cell phones are a distraction and can harm students’ mental health and well-being if used inappropriately,” Gov. Tina Kotek said in a news release about the new guidance.
So far, at least eight Oregon school districts have either banned use in individual classes or in schools altogether, according to the state education department. Full bans have been enacted at some middle and high schools in the Lincoln County School District, Portland Public Schools, and in the Nyssa School District. The Lake Oswego School District has enacted a cell phone ban for students in all schools.
“It is important for schools to work purposefully to create conditions that promote deep thinking and sustained attention, free from the constant interruptions that cell phones and mobile devices can introduce,” Charlene Williams, director of the state education department, said in the news release.
In a May 2023 advisory, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy recommended parents set limits on phone use, and this June, Murthy called for health warnings on social media platforms for younger users, who research shows are suffering from higher rates of mental health issues when spending hours on the platforms each day.
State Rep. Emerson Levy, D-Bend, this spring held a hearing before the House Committee on Education to discuss the impact cell phones have had on Oregon students.
She and Rep. Lisa Reynolds, D-Beaverton, and several other House Democrats have signaled that they will propose legislation in 2025 to regulate cell phone and social media use among Oregon students. State legislatures in Florida and Indiana have enacted cell phone bans at schools. Other states have required schools adopt policies to restrict use.
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