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Gov. Tina Kotek delivered a widely expected executive order Wednesday on cellphone usage in public schools, requiring all 197 Oregon school districts to develop policies implementing bans from the start to the end of regular instructional hours.
School districts must work to implement Kotek’s executive order by adopting policies no later than Oct. 31, with an effective date no later than Jan. 1, 2026. The order does not mention the stricter all-day “off and away” policy that’s been adopted by some prominent school districts in Oregon, including Portland Public Schools. But it is effectively as strict, not explicitly granting districts permission to allow students cellphone access during lunch or passing periods.
In her executive order, Kotek declared that a cellphone ban would be instrumental in turning around Oregon’s dismal education outcomes by improving student focus. She also emphasized a commitment to alleviating Oregon’s youth mental health crises.
“Oregon’s schools should be a place where students find belonging, support, and the joy of learning something new,” Kotek said in a statement. “The research is clear: Cellphone use can create a trifecta of consequences for our young people—mental health issues, safety in school, and distraction from learning. I signed this order to stand up for the promise of every student in every corner of the state.”
Cellphone policies under the executive order must exempt students who need access to a phone under a medical provider’s orders or who are in individualized education programs. They must also provide other written exemptions “based on a process and guidelines adopted by the school district…to accommodate individual circumstances.” The order notes policies can exclude time students are not on school grounds or under the supervision of any school personnel other than a school bus driver.
A district’s policy must also outline how schools will store cellphones during the day. Districts must also share how they will “provide direction” to personnel if a student is found in violation of the policy. “Allowed actions may not authorize or otherwise result in a student losing instructional time, which includes suspension or expulsion,” the order reads.
The directive comes after a bill proposing a bell-to-bell cellphone policy, House Bill 2251, cleared the House but died in the Senate. That bill had bipartisan sponsorship by Reps. Kim Wallan (R-Medford), April Dobson (D-Happy Valley) and Sen. Lisa Reynolds (D-West Portland). It proposed a strict “off and away” approach to cellphone bans, much like Kotek’s ultimate order.
While generally well received by a number of educators, school administrators and pediatricians, the bill faced pushback from school district advocacy organizations that sought less restrictive guidance. Ultimately, some legislators who voted against the bill in the House expressed concern that several districts in Oregon had already developed policies in response to family and student engagement, and had already put in the work to meet the unique needs of their communities.
Oregon Education Association president Reed Scott-Schwalbach tells WW that the statewide teachers’ union appreciates Kotek’s attention to limiting excessive cellphone usage in schools, but says “any shift of this magnitude requires clear, practical guidance and solid support for classroom implementation.”
Schwalbach adds: “If phones are to be removed during the school day, schools and educators must have the tools they need—funding for secure storage systems, training for staff, and communication plans for families—so that this directive helps rather than hinders teaching and learning."
Her concerns were echoed by such groups as the Oregon Parent Teacher Association. In a statement, Robin Roemer, vice president for legislative advocacy, said the group is concerned the order provides no additional resources to districts to help them achieve the increased demands.
The statewide PTA statement also expressed concern that a statewide, one-size-fits-all policy could be damaging for some of Oregon’s most vulnerable student groups. Such students include those who work to support their families, are caregivers, or come from immigrant families who fear detention or deportation.
Kotek’s order directs the Oregon Department of Education to oversee progress and implementation in all districts of this policy.
“I am very glad we will have this order in place, and I do plan to reintroduce the bill so that we have this important policy in statute,” Rep. Wallan said in a statement. “Educators across the state report that cellphones are disruptive in their classrooms and hinder their ability to teach. Furthermore, research shows cellphones undermine students’ ability to focus—even when the phone is just on the desk, not being used. As Oregon students’ academic recovery from the pandemic remains slow, cellphone-free schools are a powerful way to help students succeed.”
