Kent School District comprehensive high schools (Kent Meridian, Kentlake, Kentwood, and Kentridge) are joining other districts around the state in implementing a districtwide cell phone policy to support and enhance student learning and mental health. This cell phone policy will begin on August 27, 2025, the first day of school for the 2025-26 year.

Washington State Superintendent of Instruction Reykdal shared cell phone guidance for schools in August of 2024. This guidance emphasizes the importance of limiting cell phone use during instructional time to create a more focused and productive educational environment. Research consistently shows that reducing cell phone use in classrooms improves concentration, learning outcomes, and overall mental and physical health, while also alleviating social media pressures.

By adopting this policy, our high schools aim to foster a conducive learning atmosphere, ensuring that students can fully engage with their education and benefit from a distraction-free classroom experience.

• Social Media and Youth Mental Health:  The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory 2023

• Screenagers

• How Social Media Affects your Teen’s Mental Health:  A Parent’s Guide

• Away for the Day

• Should The Parkland Shooting Change How Think About Phones, Schools and Safety?

• More than Half of Public School Leaders Say Cell Phones Hurt Academic Performance