Oregon’s Governor Tina Kotek has taken decisive action by signing an executive order that bans cellphone use during school hours across all K-12 public schools in the state.
This executive order follows the recent failure of House Bill 2251, which sought to impose a similar restriction but did not progress through the legislative process beyond committee review in the Senate.
The proposed legislation aimed to mandate that all school districts prohibit student cellphone use from the ringing of the first bell to the last.
While students with disabilities were to receive exemptions allowing them access to their phones for educational purposes, proponents of the ban argue that cellphones distract students and contribute to larger issues surrounding bullying and mental health.
In a statement regarding the executive order, Governor Kotek emphasized, “Oregon’s schools should be a place where students find belonging, support, and the joy of learning something new.”
Kotek reinforced that research supports the claim that unrestricted cellphone use can lead to negative outcomes, including mental health challenges and distractions from learning.
The governor asserted that the executive order aims to uphold the educational promise for students throughout Oregon.
Despite support from various educators and mental health advocates, the legislative effort witnessed opposition from certain school district leaders.
These leaders voiced concerns regarding local autonomy over school policies and expressed doubts about the financial and logistical feasibility of enforcing such a mandate.
For instance, some districts have employed secure storage solutions, like Yondr pouches, to manage phones during school hours, but these pouches can incur costs of approximately $25 to $30 per student.
Additionally, some parents have raised alarms about the potential inability to contact their children in emergencies, a concern that echoes throughout school board discussions statewide.
The governor’s office stated that the primary goal of the executive order is to enhance educational outcomes alongside improving students’ mental well-being.
As many students in Oregon continue to struggle academically in their recovery from pandemic-related disruptions, Kotek’s administration argues that adopting cellphone-free policies represents a viable approach to bolster student success.
Jared Conney Horvath, a neuroscience expert and director of an educational consulting firm based in Arizona, commented on Kotek’s announcement.
He noted that schools implementing comprehensive cellphone bans see significant benefits.
Horvath claimed that once cellphone use is eliminated, schools can regain between one to six hours of instructional time per week within the first year, leading to improved student focus and increased teacher engagement.
This comes against a backdrop of complaints about lower instructional time requirements in Oregon relative to other states.
Gustavo Barraza, a graduating senior from Milwaukie High School, shared his own positive experience with a transition to a phone-free school environment.
He stated, “We saw right away how much better things felt.
People were more focused and more connected.
Several issues at school originate from phone use or are exacerbated by it.
Some of my closest friends developed from the shared experience of being present at school, and those relationships significantly shaped my identity.”
Under the new executive order, each school district is required to establish clear policies outlining how personal electronic devices will be managed during school hours.
These policies must detail responses for instances when students violate the ban.
Importantly, punitive measures must not lead to students losing instructional time, with suspensions or expulsions prohibited as part of the response.
It is expected that model policies from districts already adhering to cellphone restrictions will be provided as resources.
However, districts will retain some discretion in tailoring their specific policies as needed.
Similar to the proposed legislation, the executive order allows exceptions for medical necessities and supports for students with disabilities, provided their individualized education programs require cellphone use.
Many other states have also enacted varying degrees of cellphone bans or restrictions in schools.
Under the executive order, all Oregon school districts are mandated to adopt their policies by October 31, with full implementation required by January 1.
image source from：opb
