Should Portland students have access to their cell phones in the classroom? A policy answer to the contentious question is far from imminent—but a recent Portland Public Schools Board of Education meeting suggests that the city may soon get its first district-wide mandate on what role personal devices should play in local schools.

Phone bans are gaining ground in schools worldwide All over the world, parents and experts are concerned about the harmful effects of smartphone use on young people. One in four countries in the world has passed laws banning the use of cell phones in schools,