Oregon schools must limit student phone use by 2026. Will a full-day ban help kids, or go too far? Here's what the new policy means and where the public stands.
A major change is on the horizon for Oregon’s public schools. Governor Tina Kotek has signed an executive order requiring all 197 Oregon school districts to implement policies that limit student access to cell phones throughout the school day. These policies must be adopted by October 2025 and fully in place by the start of 2026. Here's how the policies will affect children in Oregon's public school system.
Cell Phone Use To Be Banned For K-12 Oregon Students By January 2026
What is this new Executive Order? Executive Order 25-09 is a new statewide directive aimed at creating school environments with fewer distractions and more room for learning and student connection. The governor’s office says the order was driven by mounting evidence that heavy phone use is tied to mental health concerns, decreased focus, and lower academic achievement.
Under this new order, districts will designate specific times when students can use their cell phones from the start of the school day, to the end of the school day, but, "may exclude time when students are not on school grounds and not under supervision of school personnel."
Some exceptions can be made if a student's IEP (Individualized Education Program) or action plan states they must be allowed to use their phone, or a medical provider states that a student needs their phone for treatment of a medical condition.
Support For Executive Order 25-09
Supporters believe that making phone restrictions uniform across schools could help reduce classroom disruptions and improve student engagement, thus helping to raise Oregon student's very low scores in math and reading. A recent Pew Research Center survey supports this idea. 91% of Americans who back classroom phone restrictions say reducing distractions is a top reason. Others hope the move could also encourage better social interaction, help cut down on bullying in schools, and reduce cheating.
Concerns About Executive Order 25-09
Still, there are concerns about this new ban. Some parents worry about what happens when students can’t be reached in urgent situations and emergencies. Others question how easy it will be for staff to consistently enforce the rules. Many students say that phones have practical uses in some classes, such as during art class, and that listening to music during individual work time can be helpful for students.
Does The Research Support Banning Cell Phones In Schools?
Research on the impact of school phone bans offers mixed findings. A broad review of international studies found that in most cases, non-educational phone use had a negative impact on grades and test scores. However, a 2025 study out of the UK compared students in schools with and without phone bans and found no major difference in well-being or academic success. The study concluded that limiting phone use during school hours might only help if paired with other efforts, like education on digital habits, support for mental health, and better sleep routines.
How Will Oregon Schools Handle This New Ban On Cell Phones?
Under the new order from Governor Kotek, each district must define clear rules for when phones can be used and how exceptions will be handled. Districts must have created and adopted their new phone use policies for students by October of this year, and these policies must be active and enforced in all Oregon schools by January 2026. While it’s too early to tell what the long-term results will be, the policy marks a big step in how schools across Oregon will approach student use of technology during the school day.
What are your thoughts? Are you for a complete ban of cell phone use by students during school hours, a partial ban under certain circumstances, or no restrictions on cell phone use at all?