School cellphone bans, implemented by states and school districts across the country, resulted in substantial reduction of phone use, positive benefits for teachers and students, and a “close to zero” effect on test scores, researchers said in a new study.
Adoption of lockable phone pouches “substantially reduces phone use as measured by GPS pings and teacher reports,” the researchers said in a working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research on May 4.
They also found that teachers reported improved satisfaction after the bans were implemented, and students reported higher well-being after initially experiencing a decrease in well-being.
On the other hand, researchers found an average effect on test scores “consistently close to zero” and also estimated there was little evidence showing an impact on school attendance, engagement in the classroom, and online bullying….