Why School Phone Bans Aren’t About Kids
A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that school phone bans have limited academic benefits for students but result in happier teachers. The study examined data from over 41,000 schools and found that phone bans significantly reduced device use in classrooms.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed classroom phone restrictions in February, citing academic success and youth mental health. However, a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found little academic benefit from phone bans. The study examined data from 2018 to 2025 at over 41,000 schools and found that the average effect on test scores was 'consistently close to zero.' Device use inside classrooms fell by roughly 30 percent by the third year of a ban, and teacher surveys showed in-class phone use dropped from 61 percent to 13 percent. Teachers reported being happier in their jobs due to strict bans. A UPenn national survey of over 20,000 public school educators also found that stricter cellphone policies were linked to less in-class phone use and higher teacher satisfaction.
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