West Seattle Student Cellphone Use Expectations

Cellphones, Electronic, and Personal Items

We have schoolwide cellphone policy/protocol. Phones Off, Learning On. There is plenty of research out there now to be confident in saying that unlimited cellphone use at school can have negative impacts on students’ academic performance and social-emotional health. In addition, OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction) published guidance on this topic cellphone and smart device use schools.

Please have a conversation with your student about these expectations. Also, please do not knowingly try to contact your student during class time. If an emergency, contact the main office. We are only asking students to disengage from their phones during class times.

We have a policy/protocol that involves students placing their phone into a hanging phone pocket at the beginning of each class. Each class starts without phones and may transition to use at some point, or not, depending on the learning activity that is happening on any given day. Here is the outline of our expectations.

1. Each student will get a numbered pocket in each class.
2. The number corresponds to a pocket in the phone holder.
3. At the beginning of class, each student will put their phone in their respective pocket
4. If you don’t have a phone, you will put a card in your phone holder
5. Phones are to remain in the phone holder throughout class unless the teacher has turned their cellphone stop light to green.
6. This includes when leaving the room for bathroom/water/etc.

Emergencies pertaining to cellphones

• Students, if you have an emergency and need to contact your parent(s)/family, please let your teacher know immediately. There is a phone available in the main office for students to use.
• Families, out of consideration of instructional time, other students, and staff members, please do not call, FaceTime, Zoom, Livestream or the like during the school day with your student during class time.
• Families, if you need to speak with your student, please feel free to call the main office at 206-252-8800 and a staff member will let them know.
• We strongly suggest that students do not bring ear pods and personal items of value to school.

West Seattle High School staff and administration are not liable for any lost, missing, stolen, and/or misplaced cellphones, ear pods, or any other electronics or personal items.

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Supporting Focused Learning: New Districtwide Student Cellphone Procedure Begins May 4

Beginning Monday, May 4, Seattle Public Schools will implement a districtwide student cellphone use procedure across all schools.

We want to share why this change is being made and how it supports students.

What to Expect

The procedure reflects students’ developmental needs:

• Grades K–8: Phones will be “Away for the Day”, not accessible during school hours. 
• Grades 9–12: Phones will be “No Cell Bell to Bell”. Phones will be kept away during class, with limited access during lunch and passing periods.

This approach protects learning time while helping older students build responsible device habits.

School leaders will retain flexibility in storage routines and tools while maintaining the same expectations districtwide. Please be on the lookout for a letter from your school leader that explains your school’s storage routine.

Why This Change

Until now, cellphone expectations have varied from school to school, which has been confusing for families and inconsistent for students. Our goal is to ensure all students have the same clear, fair expectations and the best possible conditions for learning, no matter which school they attend.

What We Learned

District review, pilot schools, and feedback from students, families, and educators showed consistent results:

• When phones are kept away during instruction, students are more engaged and better able to focus 
• Fewer distractions lead to calmer classrooms and stronger learning experiences 

Research reinforces what schools see every day. Cellphones, even when not actively used, can interrupt attention, lower academic performance, and make it harder for students to refocus. Cellphone use can also contribute to increased stress, cyberbullying, and other well‑being concerns.

Supporting All Students

Students who need access to a device for medical needs or documented IEP or Section 504 accommodations will continue to receive those supports.

This procedure is not about punishment; it is about creating focused, supportive learning environments and clear expectations for everyone. Thank you for partnering with us to help students learn, connect, and thrive.

If you have questions, please contact us using Let’s Talk.

With appreciation,

Bev Redmond  
Chief of Staff and Public Affairs  
Seattle Public Schools