Did School Cellphone Bans Work? New Study Finds Mixed Results.
A new study found that banning cellphones in schools reduced student cellphone use by 30%, but had a 'close to zero' effect on test scores. Teachers reported fewer distractions, but student suspensions increased by 16% in the first year after strict bans were implemented.
A new study by researchers at Stanford, Duke, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Michigan found that schools that adopted strict cellphone bans saw a significant decline in student cellphone use. The study analyzed data from over 40,000 schools between 2019 and 2026. Schools using Yondr pouches, which lock cellphones with a magnetic device, saw a 30% decline in cellphone pings from school grounds. However, test scores did not improve, and student suspensions increased by 16% in the first year after the bans. Teachers reported fewer distractions, and students reported a greater sense of personal well-being over time. The study suggests that while cellphone bans achieved some goals, they did not address underlying issues affecting academic performance.
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