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Gov. Ferguson proposes ‘away for the day’ ban on cell phones in K–12 schools
Summary
Gov. Ferguson announced he will make a top legislative priority a statewide "away for the day" ban on student cell phones (from the first bell to the last) and pitched the measure as a way to improve focus, attendance and mental health; educators and students at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School described local results from a bell-to-bell policy.
Gov. Ferguson announced at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School that he will make a top legislative priority an "away for the day" ban on cell phones in K–12 public schools, saying he will push the proposal in the next legislative session.
"I'll be proposing an away for the day ban on cell phones in schools, meaning that from the 1st bell to the last, students will not have access to their cell phones," Gov. Ferguson said, framing the policy as necessary to reduce digital distractions that undermine classroom instruction.
Why it matters: Ferguson argued that research and classroom experience show phones harm students' ability to focus, attendance and mental and emotional health. He cited figures in his remarks—"95% of teens have a smartphone" and that high in-school use means students miss substantial instruction time—and said the state should move beyond studies to action.
School leaders and educators at the event described local experience. "When phones aren't around, everything else you notice—everything else that is," said Zoe Taggart, a seventh-grade student, who told the gathering that students at her school talk more, form friendships and feel less stressed when phones are removed during the day. Zach Sewell, principal of Robert Eagle Staff Middle School, said the school used a bell-to-bell approach and observed improved climate and test scores after implementing the policy.
"It gave our culture breathing room," Sewell said, describing a change after an 8th-grade trip where phones were left behind and later a schoolwide policy. He told reporters the school currently uses a YonderPops system to collect devices, acknowledging that equipment choices raise equity concerns for districts with fewer resources.
Labor backing: Larry Delaney, president of the Washington Education Association, told the governor and reporters that the WEA—representing about 84,000 educators—recently passed a near-unanimous resolution supporting a statewide bell-to-bell policy. "We support a statewide away for the day cell phone policy so that students can focus on learning, growing, and reaching their full potential," Delaney said.
Implementation questions and limitations: Reporters pressed the governor on parental access in emergencies and whether he could impose a ban by executive order. Ferguson said parents can reach students through school channels and that he lacks authority to enact a statewide prohibition by executive order; the change must go through the Legislature. He said his office is conducting outreach to legislators and stakeholders and expects to shepherd a bill through the legislative process.
On staffing and compensation, Ferguson said teacher pay has been a priority for the state and that Washington invests heavily in education. Delaney said certificated salaries are among the highest in the nation but flagged lower pay and funding reliance for paraeducators and support staff as areas needing attention.
What’s next: Ferguson said his team will continue outreach and that, if the legislation passes, he expects a bill signing that could include student speakers. No formal legislation text, bill number, or legislative vote was recorded at the event.
