School cellphone bans don’t affect test scores or attendance, study finds
A study by researchers from Stanford, Penn, Duke, and Michigan found that cellphone bans in schools have little impact on test scores or attendance, despite reducing unauthorized usage by 80% with tools like Yondr pouches. While disciplinary incidents initially rose and student well-being dipped, these effects faded over time, with phone use dropping by 30% after three years of enforcement.
A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that cellphone bans in schools do not significantly improve test scores or attendance, despite widespread adoption across two-thirds of U.S. states. Researchers analyzed data from over 41,000 schools between 2018 and 2025, using test scores, GPS tracking, and Yondr pouch usage records, concluding that academic benefits are ‘consistently close to zero.’ The study, led by Duke University’s E. Jason Baron, noted that while phone use in classrooms dropped by 80% after implementing lockable pouches, initial disciplinary incidents rose and student well-being declined. However, these trends reversed by the second year, with phone pings—device interactions—falling by 30% after three years. Teachers reported higher job satisfaction under strict bans, though student frustration and enforcement challenges persisted early on. The findings contrast with bipartisan political support for restrictions, driven by concerns over mental health and pandemic-era learning losses. Michigan recently passed a law limiting student phone use during class, citing links between excessive screen time and anxiety. The study suggests long-term adaptation rather than immediate academic gains, with students eventually adjusting to reduced device access. Nearly 5,000 schools use Yondr pouches, requiring students to lock phones at arrival and unlock only at dismissal. The research highlights mixed outcomes: while usage drops sharply, broader educational impacts remain minimal.
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