Washington's lack of a statewide cellphone ban in schools has earned it a failing grade from several national advocacy groups.

Why it matters: Teachers say smartphones distract students and disrupt their education, and some research links school cellphone bans to better academic outcomes.

The latest: An updated state-by-state report card gives Washington an F for its policy on student cellphone use, criticizing state legislators for not including new restrictions in a law they passed last month.

• That law instead directs the state superintendent's office to recommend best practices for restricting cellphone use and send them to the Legislature by December 2027.

Context: The groups that publish the report card — Anxious Generation, Smartphone Free Childhood US, Institute for Families and Technology and the Becca Schmill Foundation — view a complete ban on cellphone use during the school day as the "gold standard."

• Only four other states — Connecticut, Maryland, Mississippi and South Dakota — received failing grades.

What they're saying: "The time for a study has passed," Lina Nealon of the Institute for Families and Technology said in a news release.

• "Washington is ignoring the extensive evidence on the academic, health, and relational benefits of freeing students from personal devices for the entirety of the school day."
• State Superintendent Chris Reykdal has also criticized the Legislature's inaction, telling TVW this month, "We are behind."

Yes, but: Research on school phone bans is still evolving, with some studies showing inconclusive effects on students' mental health.

The other side: State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds), who sponsored Washington's new law, told Axios he agrees that "bell to bell" restrictions have "the best results for learning" — but "the votes weren't there yet" in the Legislature.

• "I view this as the bare minimum," Liias said.

State of play: Some Washington school districts have adopted districtwide restrictions, while others leave cellphone policies up to individual schools.

• Seattle Public Schools falls into the latter camp, although several Seattle campuses now require phones to be put away for most or all of the day.

What's next: Seattle Public Schools superintendent Ben Shuldiner is expected to address student cellphone use at a board meeting April 29.

Share this story

The Salish Sea seemed full of whales last year — just not the ones most at risk.

• A report released this month offers one of the clearest snapshots of whale activity and human interaction, as well as the widening gap between thriving whale populations and the continued decline of southern resident orcas.

By the numbers: 50,323 wildlife reports were logged across the Salish Sea in 2025, according to the Pacific Whale Watch Association.

• Bigg's transient killer whales were spotted on more days than any other species: 342 of 365 days, per the report.
• Humpback whales were reported on 314 days.
• Minke and gray whales showed up roughly half the year.

Yes, but: Our endangered southern resident orcas were seen far less — on just 93 days.

Pass it on

🪧The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a compliance review into the University of Washington's handling of antisemitism, citing concerns tied to activities by a protest group that UW says is no longer affiliated with the school. (Seattle Times)

💊 Amazon is launching a GLP-1 weight-loss program through One Medical as demand grows and care access remains uneven, adding a new Seattle-area giant to the fast-moving market. (Axios)

🥕 Seattle is offering $80 produce gift cards to low-income older adults, aiming to boost food access and nutrition for seniors. (City of Seattle)

🕹️ Microsoft is cutting the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, but will delay adding new Call of Duty titles to the service until about a year after release. (GeekWire)

⚽️ Seattle Reign FC standout Jess Fishlock, the club's longest-tenured player, will retire at the end of the 2026 National Women's Soccer League season after a 14-year career in Seattle. (Sounder at Heart)

Starbucks announced plans yesterday to invest $100 million and bring 2,000 jobs to Nashville as it builds a major corporate hub there.

Why it matters: The Seattle-based coffee giant's corporate footprint in Nashville will be bigger than initially disclosed.

• The 2,000 workers planned in Nashville amount to more than half the head count at Starbucks' current headquarters in Sodo, reports The Seattle Times.

Driving the news: Starbucks expects to bring the jobs to Nashville over the next five years. They will include new roles, work brought in-house from contractors and some relocated teams.

• Roles will span supply chain, technology and broader support functions, with some teams — including in Starbucks Technology — moving from Seattle.
• Company officials have said the Nashville complex will complement, but not replace, its Seattle headquarters.

Yes, but: The company is also cutting some of its technology staff, per the Times.

• Those cuts were relayed to employees yesterday, separately from the Nashville announcement.

Go deeper

Seattle-area fans can celebrate "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" this week with a documentary screening that pays tribute to the cult classic and its fandom.

• What began as a box-office flop has turned into the longest-running theatrical film in history — all thanks to midnight screenings that began 50 years ago this month.

Catch up quick: Linus O'Brien, the son of "Rocky Horror" creator Richard O'Brien, released the film he directed, "Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror," in September to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the original film's release.

• The documentary features interviews with stars Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon, executive producer Lou Adler and fans like Jack Black.

"Strange Journey" is being shown Thursday through Sunday at the Tasveer Film Center in Columbia City.

Get tickets