Around 20 US states and territories—including Washington, D.C., and the US Virgin Islands—have now implemented similar phone and tablet restrictions during the school day. These rules typically include exceptions for pupils with disabilities who have Individualised Education Programmes (IEPs). In contrast, 17 states such as Maryland and Wyoming have yet to introduce any statewide regulations. Sixteen other states have opted for a decentralised approach, granting local districts the authority to set their own mobile device policies. In Puerto Rico, schools are required to establish policies by 2026.
Florida study reveals measurable academic and behavioural changes
The study, released by the National Bureau of Economic Research and covered by ABC News, assessed the effects of phone restrictions in one Florida school district. The researchers found that after implementing the policy, there was a sharp initial increase in disciplinary action. Suspension rates more than doubled in the month following the start of enforcement and remained 25% higher throughout the rest of the school year compared to the same period in the previous year.However, by the second year of the policy, suspension rates returned to pre-ban levels. Test scores improved notably, rising by 2–3 percentiles compared to the year before the ban. According to the study authors, this improvement aligned with a drop in unexcused absences, which may have contributed to the academic gains. The impact was most significant among middle and secondary school students, where smartphone usage was previously more common.
Phone bans in England linked to higher scores for struggling students
A separate study from England, discussed in The Conversation, employed a difference-in-difference strategy to assess the impact of school phone bans. Researchers compared student outcomes in schools with phone bans to those in similar schools without restrictions. The analysis found that banning phones led to a 6.4% of a standard deviation increase in test scores for pupils aged 16.One of the study’s authors explained in conversation with The Conversation that this improvement is roughly equivalent to gaining five extra days of instructional time each year. The researchers observed that the positive impact was particularly strong among low-achieving students, while high-achieving students showed no significant change. They concluded that mobile phones disproportionately distract lower-performing students and that restricting access helps narrow the achievement gap.
Classroom distractions: Ringing phones and peer talk impact student focus
A study published in the Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences explored the role of classroom distractions among university students. The findings showed that 68% of students identified ringing phones as the most frequent digital distraction, and 21% reported it as extremely disruptive. Peer conversation was the most reported self-generated distraction, cited by 72% of students.Researchers noted that external and internal distractions—especially mobile phone interruptions—adversely affected students’ ability to concentrate. The impact was most pronounced among fifth-year students. The study recommended improved classroom management and monitoring to enhance student engagement.
Further US research finds performance gains and attendance benefits
David N. Figlio and Umut Özek, researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research, conducted an additional study evaluating the broader effects of phone bans in Florida schools. The study used building-level Advan data to estimate pre-ban mobile usage across school sites. Their research found that while enforcement initially led to increased suspensions—particularly among Black students—these disciplinary issues began to decline in the second year.
Schools use pouches to enforce mobile-free environments
According to Scientific American, many schools in major US cities such as New York and Los Angeles have adopted physical tools like Yondr pouches to support phone-free environments. These fabric pouches allow students to keep their phones but lock them away during school hours. Yondr reports that over 80% of schools using the product have seen increased classroom engagement. Some schools also observed improvements in behaviour and academic performance.While long-term research is still ongoing, Scientific American noted that many educators and administrators credit reduced phone access with creating a calmer, more focused learning environment.
Policy shift gains momentum across the US
As of now, 20 US states and territories have implemented school-wide phone restrictions, with more expected to follow. Local discretion remains in place across several states, while jurisdictions like Puerto Rico have introduced timelines for compliance. The collective findings from multiple regions—including Florida, England, and various academic institutions—highlight a consistent pattern: limiting phone use in educational settings correlates with improved academic performance, better attendance, and reduced classroom disruption.
