Seattle Public Schools is implementing a district-wide phone ban beginning 4 May, with Superintendent Ben Shuldiner announcing the new policy Wednesday as a direct response to what he describes as one of the most significant obstacles to learning in classrooms today.
Under the new rules, students in kindergarten through eighth grade must keep their phones powered off and stored away for the entire school day. High school students face restrictions during class time but will have more flexibility outside of instruction. Shuldiner, who is just three months into his role leading the district, said the decision was driven by clear evidence of the harm phones are causing in educational settings. “Phones have become one of the biggest barriers to focus and learning,” he said.
The policy does not require school board approval because it is classified as a procedural change rather than a formal policy shift, allowing Shuldiner to move quickly and implement the ban without a vote. That speed has been welcomed by at least one board member who wants to go further. School board vice president Evan Briggs is already pushing to extend the full all-day ban to high school students by September. “The stricter the cellphone policy, the better the outcomes,” Briggs said.
Exceptions to the ban apply for students with medical needs or those with documented Individualised Education Programme or Section 504 accommodations. Families who need to reach their children during the school day are asked to contact the school office directly rather than calling or texting students on their personal devices.
The move places Seattle among a growing number of school districts across the country taking an increasingly firm stance on student phone use, citing research linking excessive phone access during the school day to reduced academic performance, increased anxiety, and diminished social development.
