Most Washington schools plan to limit students' cellphone and smart device usage this year.

Most school districts in Washington state are planning to restrict students' access to cellphones and other smart devices this coming school year, the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) announced on Thursday.

Public school teachers across the country are reporting that cell phones and smart watches are causing disruptions to students' learning, according to asurvey conducted by the National Education Association.

In asurvey by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), 53% of school districts in Washington state that will have a policy in place this year said that their policy would restrict access to smart devices during teaching time only.

While 31% of school districts in the state are choosing to keep devices away for the entire school day.

Of the school districts with policies in place, 61% said that both parents and teachers are satisfied with the district's policy.

State Superintendent Chris Reykdal said he is pleased to see the changes, adding, "A year ago, I challenged school district leaders across the state to adopt a policy to restrict student access to cell phones during instructional time. After surveying school districts this spring, we know that the vast majority (75%) will have a policy in place by the start of the school year that limits the use of smart devices during class time."

To boost learning and mental health, some states, like Oregon, have banned cell phones in the classroom.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed an executive order to ban cellphones in classrooms. The order mandates districts to adopt policies banning student cell phone use by October 31, 2025, with full implementation required by January 1, 2026.

RELATED:Oregon bans cell phones in K-12 schools to boost learning, mental health

Meanwhile, Washington state is continuing to evaluate the benefits of having online access at students' fingertips.

There are benefits to these powerful technologies if used responsibly," said Reykdal. "There are also tremendous risks. Studies have found negative impacts on mental health, learning, sleep, and more. I'm proud of our school district leaders who are tackling this problem head-on.