Oregon’s long-running tug-of-war over smartphones in schools has tilted hard in one direction: away from students’ hands. State education officials told lawmakers this week that 99% of Oregon school districts now have policies that limit or outright ban student cellphone use during the school day, nearly a full year ahead of the final deadline set by Gov. Tina Kotek.
The shift tracks back to Kotek’s executive order last July and was supposed to be fully in effect by Jan. 1, 2026. Already, school leaders and librarians say classrooms feel calmer and libraries are noticeably busier, even as a few very small districts and some families continue to push for clarity on exemptions and how, exactly, these rules get enforced.
As reported by OPB, Johnna Timms, director of education initiatives in the governor’s office, told Oregon’s Senate Education Committee that as of last Friday 99% of districts had policies in place, with only four districts, each enrolling fewer than 50 students, still finishing their work. OPB also reported that an Oregon Education Association survey of almost 600 educators found 88% saw clear benefits from the new rules, while librarians in Portland and Lake Oswego said circulation and social activity in school libraries have increased this year.
How the state made it statewide
Gov. Tina Kotek signed Executive Order 25-09 on July 2, 2025, directing districts to adopt personal electronic device policies by Oct. 31 and to have them fully in effect by Jan. 1, 2026, according to the governor’s office. The order set a statewide floor for restrictions while giving districts room to decide how to carry them out and included carve-outs for medical needs and supports under individualized education plans.
State guidance, toolkits and monthly support
To keep districts from reinventing the wheel, the Oregon Department of Education rolled out model policies, an FAQ and an “Enhancing the Learning Environment” toolkit. The agency also launched a monthly community-of-practice and office-hours series that will run through May 2026 to walk districts through sticky implementation questions. ODE’s digital learning newsletter lists session dates and links to templates districts can adapt as they put local plans into place.
Classrooms and libraries report change
District leaders who piloted “off-and-away” or bell-to-bell restrictions say students are more present in class and that online harassment has declined. Librarian Paige Battle at Grant High told OPB she has seen a 14.5% increase in book checkouts this school year and more teachers scheduling library visits, a sign that at least some screen time is turning back into page time.
What’s next
State officials say they will keep monitoring how the new rules play out while districts field questions from families and staff about emergency access and enforcement costs. The executive order followed a similar bill that stalled in the 2025 legislative session, and some lawmakers have signaled they may pursue statutory changes to shore up enforcement, reporting by the Oregon Capital Chronicle shows.
For now, state and district officials say they will lean on ODE’s toolkits and monthly support sessions, continue outreach to school communities and watch how the spring term unfolds in newly phone-light classrooms.
