Washington state is being singled out as falling behind a growing national movement toward statewide phone-free schools, even as more than thirty other states have adopted robust cellphone restrictions in K-12 classrooms.

Across the United States, lawmakers and education leaders have advanced policies that limit or prohibit students’ use of personal mobile devices during instructional time or for the entire school day, reflecting concerns about distractions, academic performance and student well-being.

States such as Oregon, Virginia, New Hampshire and Arkansas have passed bell-to-bell phone-free laws, requiring schools to ensure phones are inaccessible during learning hours.

In contrast, Washington has not yet enacted a comprehensive statewide law to ban or restrict phones schoolwide.

A proposed bill in the state legislature would require schools to develop device policies and have the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction compile best practices, but it remains under consideration and is not yet law.

Meanwhile, many individual districts in Washington have responded independently.

According to state education officials, the majority of local districts are planning policies that will limit cellphone use during class time, with some requiring devices to be put away or inaccessible during instructional hours.

State Superintendent Chris Reykdal has published guidance recommending that schools update their policies to restrict phones during class to support student focus and mental health, but these remain district-level decisions rather than statewide mandates.

Advocates for stronger statewide action argue that patchwork approaches produce inequities, leaving some students without consistent protections from digital distractions.

A recent opinion from a Washington parent group noted that at least fifteen states have adopted bell-to-bell phone-free laws — policies that keep devices out of students’ reach for the entire school day — while Washington continues to debate legislation.

Proponents point to research suggesting that limiting cellphone use during school can improve academic outcomes and reduce distractions, and they argue that a state-level law would bring uniform standards and support for educators.

California and New York, for example, have seen momentum in classroom phone policies that align with broader national trends.

As the 2025–26 school year approaches, Washington’s policymakers face growing calls to match the momentum seen in other states, balancing the benefits of in-class digital engagement with concerns about student focus, mental health and equitable learning environments.