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Students, educators and researchers urge limits on phones; bill aims to gather evidence and set digital‑citizenship guidance
Summary
Senate Bill 53‑46 would add mobile devices to the state definition of digital citizenship, require OSPI research and two reports (initial and final), and provide best‑practice guidance; witnesses ranged from students and principals who favor bell‑to‑bell bans to parents and students expressing safety and emergency‑contact concerns.
The committee considered Senate Bill 53‑46, a proposed substitute that incorporates student mobile device use into Washington’s digital‑citizenship framework and directs OSPI to publish research, guidance and two reports (initial summary in December; final evidence‑based recommendations by December 2028).
Sponsor Senator Lias framed the bill as a data‑driven step toward a vision of device‑free schools. "If we had the power to unilaterally get every phone out of every classroom... I would say, let's do it," the sponsor said, while noting exceptions for…
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