Cell Phones

After months of discussion, the Portland Public Schools board has approved a new policy limiting the use of students’ personal electronic devices.

Teens spend much of their days on their phones — many of them during school. Here's how schools and teachers are trying to fix that.

All Portland Public Schools students would be required to have their personal electronic devices turned off and put away during school hours, including lunch, under the proposed policy.

The guidance leaves decisionmaking and enforcement up to districts.

Across Oregon, a number of schools have been adopting new policies around cell phones. Two schools tell us about their policies.

A number of Oregon schools have been adapting new practices to minimize the use of phones in class. We'll hear from two schools to learn how they're tackling this issue.

In Walla Walla, the city’s two middle schools are trying to lock the issue down by distributing cloth phone pouches to every student. 

District leaders are developing a policy restricting cellphone use during the school day. Their goals are to limit bullying and a lack of focus in the classroom and improve student mental health.

With the debate over cell phones in schools drawing attention ahead of the school year, Oregon’s governor is suggesting a statewide approach to the issue.

School is out for the summer, but cellphones in schools remain a hot topic in Oregon and across the country.