When a recent Stanford University study showed “mixed results” regarding cell phones bans impact on improved test scores or attendance, local media reached out to see if Spokane Public Schools’ cell phone policy was making a difference.
Unlike the schools surveyed by Standford, the SPS policy — adopted at the start of the 2024-25 school year —does not require students to store their phones in a lockable pouch. Our students are allowed to keep their phones in their possession and trusted to keep them out of sight and use during designated times.
Another key difference between SPS and study participants was that our updated cell phone policy coincided with creating the Engage IRL initiative with Launch NW to replace that screen time with real life activities.
The results we’ve seen have been overwhelmingly positive. In 2024-25, lunch-time behavior referrals fell by 36% from the previous year. Failure-to-cooperate cases dropped about 22% during the same timeframe. We have also seen that middle and high school students who are engaged in an activity are passing classes at higher rates than non-engaged peers.
Data aside, both students and staff are witnessing the positive impact in their school firsthand.
“We want kids to be happy, we want them to be healthy. We've seen that there's more connection amongst students,” Sacajawea Middle School principal Tracey Leyde told KHQ, regarding the cell phone-free update. She also noted that students who are active in school clubs and sports have better attendance.
"It means a lot that they're encouraging us to try our own thing,” shared Perry, a Sacajawea eighth grader.
IN THE NEWS
KHQ: Spokane schools see fewer referrals as phone rules continue