Oregon students will soon have to keep their phones out of sight—and out of class. Governor Tina Kotek has signed an executive order telling every one of the state’s 197 school districts to ban student cell phone use during the school day by the middle of next school year.
Why the Ban Is Happening Now
The move comes after the Oregon Legislature couldn’t push through House Bill 2251, which would have forced schools to do pretty much the same thing. The bill had support from both sides of the aisle but got stuck in a Senate committee when some school boards and administrators argued that each district should decide its own phone rules.
Some district leaders also warned it would be expensive and tough to police thousands of students’ phones every day. But supporters like Rep. Lisa Reynolds of Beaverton say the governor’s order is a big win for kids. Reynolds, a doctor and the bill’s chief sponsor, said, “Every Oregon student deserves a distraction-free, harassment-free learning environment.”
What the Ban Actually Covers
Under Kotek’s order, students won’t just have to pocket their phones. They’ll have to ditch smartwatches and any other “personal electronic devices” that can make calls, send texts, or hop on the internet without the school’s Wi-Fi. Laptops and classroom tech are still okay, since they’re used for lessons and assignments.
By October 31, 2025, every district must have a written policy banning student cell phones. Schools will then have until January 1, 2026, to get that policy fully in place.
Not Everyone Is New to This
A handful of Oregon districts have already gone ahead with bans of their own. Portland Public Schools, Lincoln County, Nyssa, and Lake Oswego have all restricted or totally banned cell phones for some or all grade levels. The state’s education department will share examples of what works to help districts roll out the new rules smoothly.
Why Phones Are Getting Kicked Out
Kotek says the science is clear—too much time on smartphones isn’t helping kids learn. Researchers and teachers say the devices are fueling distractions, bullying, and stress. A Pew survey last fall found that more than two-thirds of adults think phones shouldn’t be in class at all. Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of high school teachers say phones are one of the biggest barriers to learning.
Health leaders are echoing the concerns. Last year, then-U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy urged families to limit kids’ phone time. This summer, Murthy pushed for warning labels on social media apps to make parents more aware of the risks to kids’ mental health.
Oregon Joins a Growing Trend
Oregon isn’t alone here. At least 18 other states already have some kind of phone ban in schools. Even so, how these bans work day to day will look different from one school to the next. Some schools collect phones at the start of the day. Others ask students to keep them in backpacks or lockers until the final bell.
Kotek’s order promises districts some flexibility to figure out the best way to make the ban stick. Still, they’ll need to hammer out what happens when students break the rules and how teachers and principals will enforce the new policies.
What Comes Next
School leaders have until this fall to get their plans down on paper. They’ll spend the next year training staff, telling families what to expect, and deciding what penalties—if any—students will face if they sneak a peek at their screens.
Kotek says the goal is simple: cut down on distractions and give Oregon kids a better shot at staying focused and feeling safe in class.
For parents, students, and teachers, this big change will take some getting used to. But by January 2026, Oregon’s classrooms should look very different—less scrolling, more studying.
