FILE: A ninth grader places her cellphone in to a phone holder as she enters class at Delta High School, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Delta, Utah. At the rural Utah school, there is a strict policy requiring students to check their phones at the door when entering every class. Each classroom has a cellphone storage unit that looks like an over-the-door shoe bag with three dozen smartphone-sized slots.
Rick Bowmer / AP
Beginning this year, students in Lake Oswego will not be allowed to use their cellphones during the school day. It’s one of Oregon’s most sweeping cellphone bans, as interest has increased across the country in limiting use of cellphones at school.
In announcing the cellphone policy, Lake Oswego School District Superintendent Jennifer Schiele noted research showing the devices “can be a significant barrier to learning and personal development.” The superintendent’s message notes that 95% of teens have access to smartphones, according to a Pew Research Center study. The same study found more than 70% of teens felt “peaceful” or “happy” when they didn’t have their phones — but it also found 45% of teens felt smartphones helped them do well in school. The superintendent’s message also cited a conclusion from the American Psychological Association of “heightened levels of anxiety and stress among teenagers” linked to smartphone use and access to social media.
Lake Oswego’s superintendent announced the policy Wednesday to parents but didn’t provide specifics on how the ban would be implemented or enforced. According to a district spokesperson, the Lake Oswego school board discussed a draft policy earlier this month, but it’s expected to change substantially before a final version is approved. The superintendent’s message to families noted that exceptions are likely to be allowed for “health, safety or emergency reasons.”
Portland Public Schools is also considering restrictions on cellphones, but hasn’t finalized a policy either. Some Portland schools are implementing tighter rules on cellphones, including the use of secure phone pouches at some campuses.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has said she wants a statewide policy on cellphone use in schools. But that won’t come before school starts.