SEATTLE — Seattle Public Schools’ (SPS) new cellphone ban took effect Monday for K-12 students, expanding and standardizing rules that many schools in the district already had in place.
District leaders said research shows that when phones are put away, schools see better focus and fewer disruptions.
“When the phones are out of the kids’ hands, they actually pay attention to the teacher, they pay attention to each other, they engage more,” SPS Superintendent Ben Shuldiner said.
RELATED | Seattle Public Schools to roll out districtwide cellphone limits starting May 4
Under the policy, students are divided into two broad groups — kindergarten through eighth grade and ninth through 12th grade — with each grade level able to set specific expectations that meet students’ needs. The policy was developed after a pilot run at five schools across the district.
“Having a cell phone policy is incredibly important,” said Shuldiner.
For students in grades K-8, phones must be turned off and stored away for the entire school day, including during passing periods and lunch.
A file photo of the Seattle Public Schools district office building. (KOMO)
High school students in grades 9-12 have more flexibility. Phones must be turned off and put away during all classes, but students in those grades can access their phones during lunch and passing periods. The district said that the approach supports responsible device use and digital citizenship.
“Does the district have a mechanism to notify parents if something happens, to figure out if their students are safe?” asked KOMO News Reporter Natalie Fahmy.
“Oh, absolutely, I mean, we have all sorts of things,” said Shuldiner. “An off and away all day policy doesn’t mean that in the middle of an emergency, we’re going to expect you not to pull out that phone.”
The districtwide policy includes limited exceptions for students who need access to a cellphone for medical needs, as part of a documented individual education program, or through a documented accommodation.