22 U.S. States and DC Adopt K-12 Cellphone Bans as 19 Others Impose Limits
Updated
Updated · KSTP · Jun 29
22 U.S. States and DC Adopt K-12 Cellphone Bans as 19 Others Impose Limits
1 articles · Updated · KSTP · Jun 29
Summary
At least 22 states and the District of Columbia now enforce statewide bell-to-bell K-12 cellphone bans, with most of the measures adopted in the past one to two years.
Another 19 states use looser restrictions instead, reflecting a broader push to curb in-school phone use without always requiring full-day bans.
Minnesota researchers surveying school administrators found anecdotal gains from stricter policies, including more peer interaction, fewer discipline issues and lower failure rates.
National evidence is mixed: a Stanford-led study of 43,000-plus schools found bans cut phone use but did not improve test scores, attendance, attention or perceived cyberbullying.
Other studies suggest stricter bans make teachers happier and reduce improper phone use, but Harvard found they do not meaningfully lower students' overall daily screen time.