Gov. Ferguson proposes statewide cellphone ban in Washington K-12 schools

SEATTLE — Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Tuesday a top legislative priority to ban cellphones and other smart devices in all Washington state K-12 public schools during school hours.

The proposed “Away for the Day” policy would require schools to prohibit smartphones and smartwatches from the first to the last bell. Under the timeline released by the governor’s office, a detailed proposal will be unveiled by Sept. 15, with plans to prefile the bill on Dec. 7 ahead of the upcoming legislative session. School districts would be required to implement the ban by September 2027.

Ferguson cited data showing that 95 percent of American teenagers own smartphones, with 97 percent using them during the school day. Studies indicate students spend about a quarter of their school day on their phones, equating to more than 41 instructional days lost per school year.

“Our kids are missing what’s written on the whiteboard and focusing more on memes instead of math because of digital distractions,” Ferguson said, adding that he does not want Washington to be the last state to act.

According to Education Week, at least 31 states and the District of Columbia currently restrict school cellphone use, with 22 enforcing bell-to-bell bans. While roughly 75 percent of Washington school districts have individual policies limiting classroom phone use, a national report card gave the state an “F” for its statewide policy.

Ferguson’s team will spend the next three months traveling throughout the state to meet with educators, students, and stakeholders to finalize enforcement options, medical exemptions, and emergency communication plans.

Photo courtesy Washington State Governor’s Office of Gov. Bob Ferguson (center) making announcement

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Elkhorn Media Group