'Close to zero': Schools are spending tens of millions banning phones from classrooms, but test scores aren't improving | Fortune

"At least 37 states, as well as Washington D.C., have banned phones and other electronic devices. It costs a hefty amount to do so. New York City public schools have allocated $29 million on phone pouches to hold devices during the day. Los Angeles schools spent $5.2 million. Other major metros are throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars to take phones out of the classroom."

"The study, a working paper published in the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), found that out of data from 4,600 schools, bans have produced virtually no net change to test scores. They've also not moved the needle on bullying, classroom attendance, and self-reported attention rates, many of the conditions the bans were meant to improve."

""We do see slightly positive effects in high schools, and slightly even smaller effects, and negative in middle schools," Duke professor and study co-author E. Jason Baron, told Fortune, speaking of the impact on test scores. "But again they're basically close to zero, both of them.""

"Meanwhile, high schoolers' math and reading scores have continued plummeting, reaching historic lows in 2024 even as phone bans have grown in popularity. Computer use in schools may be hurting student test scores. Of course, there are other factors that may contribute to this decline. While phones have disappeared from the classroom, other devices have moved in."

Phone and other electronic device bans are spreading across many U.S. states and districts, with large spending on phone pouches and related enforcement. A comprehensive study using data from about 4,600 schools finds virtually no net change to test scores after bans. The study also finds no meaningful effects on bullying, classroom attendance, and self-reported attention, which were key goals of the bans. Effects vary by grade level, with slightly positive impacts in high schools and slightly negative impacts in middle schools, but both are close to zero. Despite growing bans, high school math and reading scores continued to fall to historic lows in 2024, while other devices such as computers may be contributing to score declines.

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