The Oregon Department of Education in new guidelines recommends schools “limit or restrict” cell phone use

Studentsparents, teachers, directorsand even Oregon Governor Tina Kotek everyone expressed their opinion in the debate on mobile phones in schools.

Now the Oregon Department of Education is getting into politics guidance issued on Wednesday.

“We know that cell phones can benefit students, including those who may have health and safety concerns or where students with disabilities need assistive technology for additional support,” ODE Director Charlene Williams said in a news release announcing the guidelines.

“At the same time, it is important that schools intentionally work to create conditions that support deep thinking and sustained attention, free from the constant distractions that cell phones and mobile devices can cause.”

The state agency’s guidance cites research on the harmful effects of phone use, especially social media, stating that “excessive use of cell phones and social media is correlated with increased risk of anxiety, depression and decreased attention span.”

Earlier this year, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned against the excessive use of social media, which has sparked discussions across the country about minimizing young people’s use of popular apps such as Instagram and Snapchat.

Gov. Tina Kotek, who has previously expressed support for a “statewide approach” to reducing cell phone use, said in a news release that cell phones can have a negative impact on student learning.

“Cell phones are a distraction and can harm students’ mental health and well-being if used inappropriately,” Kotek said.

There is currently no law in Oregon that prohibits or restricts the use of cell phones in schools, although guidelines cite: Act of 2013 this requires districts to have specific policies regarding the use of “personal electronic devices” in schools. Since then, the use of mobile phones equipped with interactive applications has increased rapidly. In 2013 at the Pew Research Center reported 37% of teenagers had a smartphone. In 2022, 95% of teenagers admitted that they have access to a smartphone, according to Pew.

ODE does not track how many school districts have cell phone policies.

Like previous guidance, the ODE’s 28-page document leaves decision-making to schools and districts, only recommending that districts “review and update” their policies. The guidelines include strategies used in some schools, such as cell phone lockers, as well as recommendations for planning and implementing more stringent policies.

ODE suggests that districts work with staff, students and school communities to develop policies and argues that school principals should educate the same groups after policies are created. The department advises schools not to impose penalties for enforcing cell phone policies, but to leave flexibility if students need the phones for medical reasons or if they can benefit from assistive technology programs such as speech-to-text.

For staff, ODE is asking adults in schools to “model expected behavior” by also refraining from using cell phones during classes.

“Schools should provide employees with alternatives to personal communication via mobile phone, including email, school apps, landlines, etc. for work communication,” according to the guidance.

As noted in the ODE guidance, several schools and districts have already moved ahead of the state in creating their own, more restrictive policies. Case studies of eight school districts in Oregon show a range of policies, from a “ban on cell phone use during class” in Bend-La Pine to a “full ban” in Lake Oswego, Nyssa and North Clackamas.

AND separate document provides detailed information on individual schools’ enforcement, reasoning, and early results.

“Both teachers and students said it helped maintain focus and encouraged participation in class,” said Andrew Kilstrom, director of communications at West Linn-Wilsonville. In WLWV high schools, the emphasis is on students being “present while learning” by keeping cell phones out of class.

Oregon’s largest school district, Portland Public Schools, is in the process of developing a policy, although at least three schools in the district require students to use lockable phone cases.

Oregon isn’t the only state trying to restrict cell phone use in schools. Washington common tips on this topic in August, as will states from Ohio to California statewide policies measures have been implemented to limit the use of cell phones or require school districts to adopt policies limiting the use of cell phones.

However, some of these policies can be costly for school districts.

Using information from Oregon school districts that use cell phone bags, ODE reports that the bags cost an average of $27 per school year per student, totaling more than $32,000 for a large high school. Other solutions, such as hanging storage units with cell phone pockets and lockable bins, are much cheaper, ranging from $800 to $3,000.

This story comes from Northwest News Network, a collaboration between public media organizations in Oregon and Washington.