SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – As students prepare to return to classes, they will be met with new cell phone restrictions in their schools.
Washington’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal, requested districts in the state to adopt a cell phone policy restricting access during instructional time. One year later, 61% of districts with policies in place are reportedly satisfied with their approach.
Spokane Public Schools have implemented a plan allowing middle and elementary students to use their phones only before and after school. High school students can use their phones at lunch and between classes.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) conducted research, using the Rearden-Edwall School District as a case study. Students there were asked to keep their phones in lockers or cubbies. Similar to Spokane, high school students could access their phones during lunch and breaks.
The superintendent at Rearden stated that the restrictions resulted in students being more engaged with each other, staff, and their learning.
Several districts have followed suit, including Central Valley, Mead, Cheney, East Valley, West Valley, Deer Park, Riverside and Medical Lake. These districts will start the new year with a cell phone restriction policy, with the severity varying by district.
According to OSPI, 53% of districts with a policy in place restrict cell phone use during teaching time, while 31% require phones to be put away for the entire school day.
