Away For The Day | Latest News - Gov. Kotek issues executive order banning cellphones during school hours

Oregon (OPB) -- Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed an executive order Wednesday prohibiting student cellphone use during the school day in all of Oregon’s K-12 public schools. The move comes just after a bill meant to do the same thing died in the 2025 legislative session.

House Bill 2251 would have required all Oregon school districts to ban students from using cellphones “bell to bell,” meaning from the start to the end of the school day. There were some exceptions, such as for students with disabilities who use cellphones to access their education.

Proponents of such a ban argue that cellphones in the classroom are, at best, a distraction. At worst, they say the devices contribute to bullying and mental health problems.

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