Phone-Free Schools in Seattle: SPS Cell Phone Policy
Seattle Public Schools serves about 49,000 students in Seattle, Washington. Washington has statewide guidance on phones but no requirement, so the school board sets the rules.
- Location
- Seattle, Washington
- King County
- Enrollment
- About 49,000 students
- Seattle area
Seattle Public Schools is a public school district headquartered in Seattle, Washington (King County), serving approximately 49,000 students across the Seattle area. Like every district in Washington, its cell phone rules are shaped by state law — and by how well the policy is actually enforced on each campus.
Does SPS ban cell phones?
Not statewide. SSB 5346 (Chapter 225, Laws of 2026) is a study-and-guidance measure — it directs the state to develop recommendations, not schools to restrict phones. The district's school board sets its own policy, and most Washington districts already have one.
For the full statute, scope, effective date, and primary sources, see our guide to Washington's phone-free school policy, part of our phone-free school laws by state directory.
Enforcing a phone-free day across Seattle
With no statewide requirement in Washington, the district has full authority over its phone policy — and adopting durable enforcement now puts it ahead of any future statewide rule.
Three enforcement models districts choose from
- Physical pouches (e.g., Yondr): a per-student cost that recurs as pouches are lost or damaged, plus daily hand-out and unlocking at every campus.
- District storage (lockers, caddies, classroom bins): low hardware cost, but it relies on staff to police compliance period after period.
- Device-level software (such as LockedIn): locks the phone students already carry during school hours, with no pouches to hand out.
LockedIn, which publishes this page, makes software that locks students' own phones during the school day, with an admin dashboard and no pouches or hardware. Where a state requires phones to be stored away from students, it works alongside that storage rather than replacing it. Compare the options in our phone-free school solutions comparison or the LockedIn vs. Yondr breakdown, and model the math with our pouch-vs-software cost calculator.
What SPS schools can do next
Draft a policy with our free phone-free school policy generator, or contact our team for a quote. Title I schools in Washington may also qualify for subsidized access.
Explore other Washington school districts or browse phone-free school coverage by district.
Frequently asked questions
Does SPS have a cell phone ban?
Not statewide. SSB 5346 (Chapter 225, Laws of 2026) is a study-and-guidance measure — it directs the state to develop recommendations, not schools to restrict phones. The district's school board sets its own policy, and most Washington districts already have one.
What is Washington's school cell phone law?
Washington has no statewide school phone ban. SSB 5346 (2026) authorizes school boards to limit student possession and use of mobile devices and has OSPI report to the Legislature by Dec. 15, 2027, with a goal of bell-to-bell policies in every district by 2030. See our full Washington guide for the statute, scope, effective date, and exceptions.
How can Seattle-area schools enforce a phone-free day?
Schools generally choose physical pouches (like Yondr), district-managed storage, or device-level software like LockedIn that locks the phone students already carry during school hours. Each district picks the method; check SPS's student handbook for the one it uses.
How much does LockedIn cost for a district like SPS?
LockedIn is priced per student, per year, and quoted per school or district based on enrollment and rollout — there are no pouches or hardware to buy and no per-unit replacement costs. Contact us for a written quote and a side-by-side comparison against a pouch program. Qualifying Title I schools may receive subsidized or fully covered access.