Redmond School District Starts New School Year Ahead of Statewide Executive Order

Overview:

Redmond school district is implementing a ban on electronic devices starting with the first day of school this year.

Redmond School District will ban all personal electronic devices during school hours starting with the 2025-26 school year, following the statewide Executive Order No. 25-09 signed by Gov. Tina Kotek on July 2.

The district’s “bell to bell” policy prohibits students from using cell phones, smartwatches, smart glasses and earbuds from the start of regular class time until the final bell rings. Devices must stay in backpacks, lockers or locked classroom cabinets during school hours.

“We chose to begin enforcement and implement the policy on the first day of the school year, so expectations are clear from the start,” said Logan McGinnis, district public information officer. “We are committed to working with students, families, and staff to provide the best learning environment we can.” According to the governor’s orders, all schools must have their new policy in effect by Jan. 1, 2026.

Under the new policy in Redmond schools, students store their cell phones in their lockers until the end of the day.
*Courtesy: Unsplash*

District was already planning changes

Redmond schools were already moving toward stricter phone rules when Kotek signed the order in July.

“Redmond School District has been working on a district-wide cell phone policy for a while,” said Liz Goodrich, school board director. “The Governor’s order, like it or hate it, required us to move quickly to get a policy adopted. Although districts have until January, we felt starting off the new school year with a policy in place was a better option than waiting.”

The statewide policy aims to boost student mental health, reduce distractions and improve academic success.

Teachers pushed for change

Classroom educators backed the stricter rules during recent school board meetings.

“Several teachers made public comment at board meetings in support of a policy banning cell phone use during the school day,” Goodrich told the Source. “They spoke powerfully about the negative impact that cell phones have on instructional time, student mental health and safety.”

Implementation details

The school board is finalizing the district’s official policy and consequences, promising students won’t lose class time over violations. Details will be released before school starts.

“Consistent enforcement of the policy throughout the district will be critical,” Goodrich said.

Parents who need to reach their children during school hours should call the school’s front office instead of texting directly. Students will be able to have on hand any school-issued Chromebooks for classwork, internet access and email.

Policy comparison

Redmond High School’s 2023-24 handbook already restricted phone use, requiring devices to be “off and away from bell to bell” with access only before school, during passing periods, lunch and after school. Students caught using phones in class had to report to the student management office, call parents and have a parent pick up the confiscated device. Refusing to comply resulted in out-of-school suspension.

Under the new rules, personal electronics must be put away for the entire day. “The biggest difference will be at the high school level, where students will no longer be able to use devices during school hours,” says McGinnis. “Phones and other devices must be kept in lockers or backpacks.”

This year, students who break this policy face differently escalating consequences. For a first offense, school staff will take the device and hold it at the front office until the end of the day, and parents will get a call about what happened. A second violation means the device goes to the front office again until dismissal, but this time parents can either pick it up themselves or call the school to have it released to their child. Students with three or more violations will have their devices confiscated, and a parent must meet with an administrator or dean — either by phone, video call or in person — before getting the device back. None of these consequences will cause students to miss class time.

This article appears in the Source September 4, 2025.