How does your school handle tech? Is it working?
Screens in Schools is a nonpartisan research initiative in partnership with the National Governors Association. Our work supports evidence-based policies for technology use in schools.
The research team
100,000+ educators completed last year’s survey on school phone policies.
The Phones in Focus survey reached about half of all public middle and high schools in the U.S. It measured phone policies across two dimensions: WHEN and WHERE.
WHEN is the use of phones restricted?
Bell-to-bell
i.e., students are prohibited from using their phones for the entire school day
Schedule-based restriction
e.g., students can only use phones during lunch or between classes
No school-wide restriction
e.g., individual teachers and staff decide when students can use phones for their class
WHERE are students allowed to keep their phones?
Phones cannot be brought into school at allStudents must leave phones at home or in vehicle
Centralized collectionStudents must deposit phones in one place for the whole day, like in homeroom or the main office
Yondr pouches or similarStudents keep phones in a lockable pouch
Lockers onlyStudents must keep phones in their hallway locker, cubby, etc.
Classroom collectionTeachers collect and return phones every class
‘No show’Students keep phones with them in backpacks, pockets, etc.—but phones must be out of sight
No school-wide policyIndividual teachers/staff decide where students keep phones
Media coverage
Did School Cellphone Bans Work? New Study Finds Mixed Results.
What actually happens when schools take away students' phones?
Largest-ever study of school cellphone bans finds mixed results
More Schools Are Imposing Phone Bans. Do They Really Work?
Five Things to Know About Largest Cell Phone Ban Study
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