Classroom Phone Ban

Let’s stop pretending we don’t see the problem. Students are losing focus, falling behind, and checking out, and a big part of the reason is sitting in their pockets. 

Gov. Tina Kotek’s executive order banning cell phone use during school hours isn’t overreach. It’s common sense. Phones have slowly turned classrooms into a fight for attention, and our kids are the ones losing. If we’re serious about education, we need to be serious about removing the distractions that are eroding it.

In 2022, the Program for International Student Assessment found that two-thirds of students say they’re distracted by devices in class. The result is clear: lower scores, less focus, and a system stretched thin. A 2025 National Center for Education Statistics survey shows over 70% of school leaders believe phones hurt mental health and attention spans. More than half say they directly hurt academic performance. 

While the ban may have initially surprised students, it’s far from a radical idea. Oregon is now the 27th state to implement restrictions on cell phone use in schools, joining a growing nationwide movement. With more than half the country on board, it’s clear this approach is gaining traction, and for a good reason.

Some say this goes too far. But the Netherlands just banned phones in schools, and per Reuters, 75% of high schools reported better student focus. 

When districts enforce a cell phone ban, they send the message that education is the priority. That’s a message the state of Oregon could benefit from reinforcing. Despite being ranked 41st in the nation for overall school performance, Oregon has some of the highest per-student spending. Clearly, money alone isn’t the solution. Kotek’s policy recognizes that real academic support means helping students focus, engage, and succeed. This isn’t about banning technology altogether; it’s about using it with purpose, not at the expense of learning.

It’s understandable that many students have valid reasons for using phones during school hours, whether it’s to communicate with an employer, as a tool for a class, or even for safety in certain situations. However, with Kotek’s order, districts have the flexibility to allow access for urgent situations. 

Just because constant phone use has become the norm in schools doesn’t mean it’s the best path forward. We should be willing to question whether what’s common is actually what’s helpful.

Travis has four children in school and sees firsthand how this generation is expected to succeed in an environment full of noise and digital temptation. Everything is competing for their attention, and too often, education and real human connection lose. This constant pull from screens has chipped away at their learning and social skills. Now throw a smartphone into the mix, with TikTok, texts, and notifications buzzing nonstop. It’s not a fair fight.

That’s why it makes sense to ban phones throughout the entire school day, including breaks and lunch. Kotek’s order has the potential to foster more meaningful, face-to-face connections among students. Without the constant pressure of notifications and social media, students are more likely to be present, both physically and emotionally. 

In a world where digital noise is constant, school can become one of the few places where students actually get a break. In fact, nearly three-quarters of students nationwide report feeling more peaceful when they’re away from their phones, according to Pew Research. 

Phones have a place, but that place isn’t in the middle of a math lesson, a science lab, or a student’s chance at a better future. We owe them better. And it starts with putting the phones away.

Gov. Kotek’s executive order to ban cell phones in classrooms is certainly well-intentioned, but its K-12 scope and “bell-to-bell” timeframe is an overreaction to the problem at hand. 

For one, there are obvious safety concerns. Per CNN, school shootings have steadily increased since 2008, with a tragic 83 occurring in 2024. The CDC found in 2019 that 9% of high school students had missed school in the last 30 days because they felt unsafe on their way there or on the premises. With the ban, students and parents won’t be able to immediately contact each other in times of emergency.

It’s one thing to request phones be put away while class is in session – but taking them away for an entire school day is cutting a valuable line of communication between students and those they feel comfortable contacting. Under the current wording of the executive order, students can’t even access their phones during reasonable times, such as lunch or in between periods. 

The ban doesn’t just take away cell phones for younger age groups that are the most susceptible to the negative effects of screen time, but instead stretches all the way through 12th grade. This is problematic for high schoolers, who deserve the autonomy to keep their personal devices with them. 

Many high schoolers have jobs or important responsibilities outside of school they may need to monitor during the day. Like it or not, the instant connectivity phones provide has become a major aspect of modern life, especially in the workforce. Impacted students shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get a personal exemption to the ban. 

Breaks from the internet are a good thing, of course, but whether or not an older student should be kept from their phone for multi-hour blocks several days a week is a choice that should be left to the individual and their parents, not the state. And many seniors are 18 years old – a legal adult. 

Another worrying part of the ban is how it places more responsibility on teachers. The executive order puts the onus on each individual school district to implement its own version of the ban, requiring them to come up with ways to safely store student cell phones and enforce the rules. 

One option allows students to keep their devices on their person, but in a school-provided lockable pouch. The problem? It’s not cheap, and the executive order doesn’t come with any funding. The Oregonian reported such pouches cost Oregon’s North Clackamas School District $300,000 for a school of nearly 17,000 students in 2024. 

But if not the pouches, schools would be responsible for safely managing student devices and redistributing them to the right person each day. 

Additionally, many modern education techniques are intertwined with technology. When Ryland was in high school, some of his classes used “Kahoot” games for test preparation, where each student logged into an online quiz on their phone or device. These games were always popular; they fostered healthy competition and were an engaging way to retain information. 

While Kotek’s order still allows for devices such as Chromebooks to be used in the classroom, not every district has the means to supply each student with an approved device. As education moves more online, phones remain the most accessible way for every student to stay involved. 

Managing students’ in-class screen time is a worthy goal. However, blanket bans such as Kotek’s recent executive order are too much, too late for Oregon students.