The number of states restricting students’ cellphone use in schools over the past year has surged from just a few to more than half with laws on the books.
But as policymakers from both sides of the aisle have embraced the idea, there is little research on how effective cellphone bans are at achieving their stated goals: improving student learning and behavior.
Do cellphone bans improve students’ focus? How do policies affect classroom culture? And will teachers sour on cellphone bans over time when faced with the reality of having to enforce them?