Students share their recommendations on a Highline mobile device policy at the June 3 board meeting.
Members of the Superintendent’s Student Leadership Team (SSLT) shared their recommendations for a mobile device policy with the Highline School Board at its June 3 meeting.
Their message: students recognize that phones can be a distraction, but any policy should be developed with students, not just for them.
Student Feedback Highlights Need for Balance
Earlier this year, SSLT students launched a districtwide survey that asked students, families and staff mobile phone use during the school day. Students used the feedback, along with their own experiences, to identify considerations for the school board.
They told the board that smartphones can interfere with learning, making consistent expectations important across classrooms and schools. At the same time, they emphasized that phones can serve legitimate purposes, including research, translation, accessibility accommodations and communication with families.
One student described using a phone to better understand a math assignment. Another shared that students may need to contact family about rides, siblings or safety.
Based on the survey results and student discussions, SSLT identified three priorities:
- Engagement: Students are less likely to use phones when learning is active and meaningful.
- Consistency: Expectations should be clear and similar across classrooms and schools.
- Fairness: Rules should be respectful and applied consistently.
As one student leader shared with the board, “This isn’t about restriction. It’s about building an environment that supports students and their learning.”
Student Recommendations
Students recommended that any future mobile device policy include:
- Clear guidance on when and where phones can be used.
- Predictable and restorative responses when expectations are not followed.
- Support for students who need phones for medical needs, translation, accessibility or an individualized education program.
- Clear family communication, including how schools will communicate during emergencies.
- Support for digital literacy, so students learn when technology supports learning, when it becomes a distraction and how to use it responsibly.
Next Steps
This work comes as Washington state updates expectations for student mobile device use in schools. A new state law directs school districts to develop policies limiting personal mobile device use during instructional hours while reviewing research and best practices, with a goal of supporting community-tailored, bell-to-bell policies by 2030.
The students’ recommendations will help guide Highline’s next steps as we explores a potential mobile device policy. Over the coming year, we plan to engage students, families and the School Board while reviewing state guidance and legislative requirements and updates. The goal is to develop clear expectations that support learning, keep students safe and reflect the needs of the Highline community.