Gov. Tina Kotek Issues Executive Order Mandating ‘Bell-to-Bell’ Ban on Student Cellphones in Oregon Schools
OREGON, JUL 2 – Governor Kotek’s executive order aims to improve mental health and academic focus by banning cellphones during school hours, with policies required by October 31, 2025 and full enforcement by January 1, 2026.
- On Wednesday, Oregon’s governor, Tina Kotek, issued Executive Order 25-09, which prohibits the use of cell phones by students during school hours in all K-12 public schools across the state.
- The order follows the failure of House Bill 2251, which passed the Oregon House but stalled in the Senate Committee this legislative session.
- The executive order requires all districts to adopt a bell-to-bell cell phone ban by October 31, 2025, with full implementation by January 1, 2026.
- Research cited by Kotek and neuroscientist Jared Conney Horvath indicates smartphones harm learning more than bullying or depression, while early pilot programs show schools gain 1 to 6 extra instructional hours weekly after banning phones.
- The policy aims to improve mental wellbeing and academic focus but faces mixed reactions from educators and parents concerned about enforcement and emergency communication access.
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Gov. Tina Kotek orders Oregon schools to prohibit students from using cellphones - Ashland News - Community-Supported, NonProfit News
The executive order follows the failure to pass a similar bill during the 2025 Legislative Session and will help student mental health and learning, Kotek said. By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle By the middle of the upcoming school year, Oregon students will not be allowed to use their cellphones in school. Gov. Tina Kotek on Wednesday issued an executive order to Oregon’s 197 school districts, requiring they adopt a policy for banning…
The union advocates that the prohibition of the use of telephones in schools extends to the 12th year, justifying "probably abusive or subversive use" of devices in pedagogical contexts.
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