Ban on Cellphones in Schools Produces Mixed Results, Study Finds

With substantial reduction in use, researchers found little or no impact on test scores, attendance, and engagement in class.

A ninth grader places his cellphone into a phone holder as he enters class at Delta High School, in Delta, Utah, on Feb. 23, 2024. Rick Bowmer/AP Photo

School cellphone bans, implemented by states and school districts across the country, resulted in substantial reduction of phone use, positive benefits for teachers and students, and a “close to zero” effect on test scores, researchers said in a new study.

Adoption of lockable phone pouches “substantially reduces phone use as measured by GPS pings and teacher reports,” the researchers said in a working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research on May 4.