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School phone bans: Mixed results emerge
6 May
Summary
- Teachers report fewer distractions with school phone bans.
- Little evidence of improved academic achievement or behavior found.
- Student well-being and discipline rates improve over time with bans.
The largest-ever study on school cell phone bans indicates decidedly mixed results. Teachers observe fewer distractions when students lock away their phones, but the immediate academic and behavioral improvements have been less significant than hoped.
The study, analyzing data from approximately 4,600 schools using lockable phone pouches, is the first nationally representative look at such policies. While initial findings show a slight drop in student well-being and a rise in disciplinary rates in the first year, these indicators improve significantly within three years.
Furthermore, exclusionary discipline rates, such as suspensions, also return to baseline levels by the third year of a ban. Newer cohorts of schools implementing bans have even seen test scores rise in a short period, though the reasons are not yet fully understood, possibly related to a changing societal perception of phone bans.
Researchers emphasize that while immediate academic gains may not be evident, reducing student phone use is a critical first step. They advocate for sustained implementation, suggesting that a few years are needed to observe the full educational benefits and manage digital devices effectively for child development.
