After Lagging Behind, Gov. Ferguson Pushes for Statewide School Cellphone Ban in Washington
The proposal would bar phones and smart devices from first bell to last bell, with exemptions for medical needs and education plans.
- On Tuesday, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson announced a statewide "away for the day" cellphone ban for K-12 public schools during a press conference at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School in North Seattle.
- Currently, Washington lacks a consistent statewide cellphone policy, leaving districts to manage varying rules; Ferguson seeks to replace this patchwork with a uniform standard to improve academic engagement across all public schools.
- Citing research that 97% of teenagers use cellphones during school, Ferguson argued students spend "more than 41" instructional days on devices, stating they are "focusing more on memes than on math."
- Washington Education Association president Larry Delaney endorsed the proposal to support educators, as the administration builds a legislative coalition ahead of the January 2027 session.
- If enacted, the policy would take effect for the 2027-2028 school year, potentially aligning Washington with nearly 40 other states that have already restricted or banned on-campus cellphone use.
13 Articles
13 Articles
'Focusing more on memes than on math': WA governor works toward statewide school cellphone ban
Washington students could soon be saying goodbye to cellphones during class — and even at lunchtime. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson and State Superintendent Chris Reykdal are calling for a statewide ban on student phone use from bell to bell in K-12 public schools. “I’ll be proposing an away-for-the-day ban on cellphones in schools, meaning that from the first bell to the last, students will not have access to their cellphones,” Ferguson said …
After lagging behind, Gov. Ferguson pushes for statewide school cellphone ban in Washington
(BigStock Photo) Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson on Tuesday announced that banning cellphone use in kindergarten through 12th grade throughout the school day will be one of his top priorities when lawmakers convene in January. “More than half of states across the country are moving in one direction, and one direction only. They’re passing laws to keep cell phones out of classrooms,” Ferguson said. “Washington state is not one of them, and tha…
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