OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Legislature is addressing concerns over students’ use of mobile devices in schools, citing negative impacts on learning and mental health.
According to a legislative report, mobile devices distract students, lowering test performance and affecting focus.
A study by the London School of Economics found a smartphone nearby can reduce a student’s test performance by about six percent.
Additionally, a University of California, Irvine study revealed it takes up to 25 minutes for students to refocus after a phone distraction.
A Pew Research Center study reported 72 percent of U.S. high school teachers see cell phone distraction as a significant issue.
The legislature is also concerned about the mental health effects of mobile devices, such as cyberbullying and unauthorized recordings. As students recover from COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, these issues are particularly troubling, the report said.
As a result of these findings, SB 5346 is moving through the legislature. It passed the Senate on February 11 by a vote of 37-12. It’s scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee of Education on February 18.
By 2030, the goal is for every school district to implement a bell-to-bell cell phone policy tailored to their community’s needs.
Concerns about safety and communication, however, have been raised by opponents of the bill, who argue that students should be able to contact parents during emergencies.
If the bill is approved, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will create a web-based resource with best practices for mobile device use and digital citizenship.
Initial findings on school policies and barriers will be reported by December 15, 2026, with a final report due by December 15, 2028.
