School cellphone bans don't boost scores or attendance, study finds

Sami Sparber

Animated illustration of a pencil eraser erasing a smartphone. — Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Schools across the U.S. are cracking down on student cellphone use, but a new study finds the restrictions bring mixed results.

The big picture: Schools that require students to lock away their phones during class have seen phone use decline substantially, according to the study shared by the National Bureau of Economic Research in April.

Student well-being also appears to improve the longer the rules remain in place.

Yes, but: "For academic achievement, average effects on test scores are consistently close to zero," the researchers wrote.

And they found "little evidence" those policies affect attendance, attention in class or perceived online bullying.

By the numbers: As of this year, roughly two-thirds of states have enacted legislation limiting student phone access, per the study.

Nearly 5,000 schools use lockable phone pouches, according to the study.

Catch up quick: School cellphone bans gained bipartisan support over the past few years as concerns grew about worsening youth mental health and plunging test scores post-pandemic, the Washington Post reports.

The restrictions are also popular among teachers.

The bottom line: Cellphone bans may still benefit students — even if they don't directly translate into higher test scores.

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School cellphone bans don't boost scores or attendance, study finds

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