About 75% of Washington schools surveyed have a policy in place to restrict cell phone use. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) conducted a survey and says 53% have a policy restricting smart devices during instructional time only, and 31% said that devices must be put away for the entire school day.
A press release from OSPI points to 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.
“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.”
The OSPI says of the school districts with policies in place, 61% said their community is satisfied with the approach the district has taken.
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