As the usage of cellphones has exploded in the 21st century, schools have had a variety of regulations to control students’ usage of the devices, but now, bans are sweeping the country.
The use of cellphones in school has only grown, and for teachers, it has grown to become a significant issue. As lawmakers have pushed forward laws empowering teachers and school administrators to restrict the usage of devices in the classroom, here is why they are being supported, and where they’re being implemented.
Why the push to restrict phones in schools
The push for restrictions on cellphone usage in schools has come from various studies and research, which has raised the alarm their usage by students, and how it distracts from students learning in the classroom.
A Fall 2023 Pew Research survey found that 72% of high school teachers say that cellphone distraction is a major problem in their classrooms, and the poll is one of several which have shown cellphone usage in classrooms has been a problem, even if students believe cellphones help them in the classroom.
Then-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for warning label to be placed on social media, a frequent use of cellphones by students at school, due to the negative effects on the mental health of children and teenagers it has.
“It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents,” Murthy wrote in an opinion piece for the New York Times last year. “The moral test of any society is how well it protects its children.”
Murthy’s warning and other data has renewed interest from several states and lawmakers to act on limiting cellphone usage for younger Americans, specifically in schools, which ramped up in 2024.
An October 2024 Pew Research survey showed that 68% of adults support banning cellphones for students during class, but only 36% support banning cellphones for the entire school day.
The most popular reasons why adults say they oppose a cellphone ban do include allowing students to reach their parents when needed, concerns over a ban being too difficult to enforce, and he belief that cellphones can be useful in the classroom.
Where are cellphones restricted in schools?
Eight states have banned the usage of cellphones in schools, with Florida being the first to do so in 2023 when Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed a bill into law doing so.
The legislation in the Sunshine State allowed teachers to ban the use of cellphones during classroom instruction time and authorized them to hold a student’s phone it is became a distraction.
Florida was followed by Indiana, Louisiana, Virginia, California, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Ohio, in passing similar bans which have either been enacted or will be in the coming year. Each of the states which have passed bans have taken different approaches to how the policy is implemented.
In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) enacted the ban via an executive order calling for cellphone bans to be implemented in the commonwealth beginning in January 2025, while in the Golden State, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) signed into law legislation which restricts student cellphone usage in schools beginning in July 2026.
In 15 other states bans have been proposed, while in another eight states have either started pilot programs or have issued policy recommendations on bans, according to the Associated Press.
What have the results been?
Early results from the cellphone bans in schools appear to be generally positive, with a report from Bloomberg showing when implemented in various New York schools, student test scores improved and teachers reported them being more engaged in class.
The report did acknowledge the adjustment was difficult at first, but that schools also noticed an increase in student attendance in schools events.
Another report from the Washington Post showed more mixed results, with some students decreasing their screen time after the bans were implemented, while other students used their phones more on the weekends with them banned during school hours. The report did find teachers finding students significantly more engaged during school hours and in class.
Where are bans being considered?
Several states, such as the District of Columbia and Congress, have proposed or explored banning cellphones in schools to some extent.
One of the states eyeing a ban on cell phones in school, Nebraska, is currently debating legislation that would require schools to adopt a policy banning students from using cellphones during school hours before the 2025-2026 school year.
“There are two reasons for this bill. First, it addresses what has become one of the most frequent and difficult to manage distractions in the classroom – students’ cell phones,” Gov. Jim Pillen (R-NE), who supports the bill, testified to the state legislature. “The second reason for this legislation is the serious impact that constant cell phone use has on our kids.”
Another place where cellphone bans in schools is being considered is in Washington, D.C., where councilwoman Brooke Pinto introduced legislation last month which would also restrict the use of cellphones during school hours.
“We must remain focused on supporting a learning environment in all of our schools that will help our students learn, play, engage, and thrive,” Pinto said in a statement about the legislation. “Removing distracting devices during the school day will better equip our students to focus, empower our teachers to teach, and ensure that our kids are engaging with one another in person, which will benefit them and their outcomes for years to come.”
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The issue has also gained national attention, with lawmakers in Congress introducing legislation to require the surgeon general to study the effects of cellphones in schools.
“Widespread use of cell phones in schools are at best a distraction for young Americans; at worst, they expose schoolchildren to content that is harmful and addictive. Our legislation will make schools remain centers of learning,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), who introduced legislation with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), said in a statement.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
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