On April 10, the University of Michigan's Youth Policy Lab (YPL) convened a National School Cell Phone Policy Conference, inviting researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from Michigan and beyond to compare notes on a rapidly changing school policy environment.
Research has found that the vast majority of middle and high school students use cell phones during the school day, which has been shown to have adverse effects ranging from distraction to bullying. States and school districts across the United States are moving to curb student cell phone use in the classroom, and, at times, co-create solutions with students and families.
Different approaches are emerging. Some districts or schools have formal policies in place, while others don't. Some physically restrain phones using lockers or pouches, while others ask students to keep them out of sight in pockets or backpacks. Some collect phones from "bell to bell" and return them at the end of the day, while others instruct teachers to collect them at the start of class.
"It's really a wide-ranging and complex environment," said Brian Jacob, co-director of YPL. "The key issue is no longer simply whether schools should restrict phones, but which restrictions are most effective for different student and school contexts, how to implement them well, and what unintended effects may follow."
The National School Cell Phone Policy Conference, sponsored by Arnold Ventures, aimed to accelerate learning, help shape a research agenda, and inform public policy that supports student well-being and academic outcomes. Which restrictions are most effective for which students? What does the implementation of phone bans look like in different kinds of schools? How do policies affect discipline, engagement, wellbeing and safety—and do they do so equitably?
Researchers shared early findings from their studies. School representatives provided insights and considerations that could impact policy and its implementation, including differences in family communication, staff alignment, consistent enforcement, equity, and appropriate exceptions. Policy experts discussed the national landscape and compared different trends.
"It is enormously important to hear from those in the classrooms and those developing policies to guide our research questions," said Jacob. "The rich conversations at the conference will drive us to uncover evidence to shape effective policies that result in the best outcomes for students."
Last fall, YPL launched two complementary studies—one focused on Michigan and one national in scope. Preliminary data will be released this summer.
The Michigan School Cell Phone Policy Study uses the state's current mix of district and school rules and guidelines as a real-world laboratory to compare different approaches and learn how the variation shapes outcomes. The study examines indicators of school and community violence (such as fights, discipline and police incidents), student well-being, and academic measures. Partners include colleagues at the U-M School of Public Health and the U-M Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention. This project is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
Read more about trends in curbing cell phone use in Michigan.
In parallel, YPL's National School Cell Phone Policy Study extends the same core questions across a broader landscape of districts that are rapidly adopting restrictions. The three-year project focuses on academic outcomes, student well-being and behavior, chronic absenteeism and school engagement. It will assess whether strictly enforced approaches, such as classroom collection, phone lockers, or pouches, can produce meaningful improvements. The study draws on data from Yondr, a company that makes cell phone–blocking pouches used in schools, as well as nationally representative survey data from Monitoring the Future. This project is funded by the Smith Richardson Foundation and Arnold Ventures.
At a glance:
- Michigan study: Explains how variation in Michigan policies and implementation relates to safety, discipline, policing, wellbeing, and academics. Project team: Brian Jacob, Justin Heinze, Elyse Thulin, Triana Kazaleh Sirdenis, Chihiro Tanigawa, and Megan Jagolinzer.
- National study: Tests effects of strict policies (including pouch use) and leverages nationally representative survey data to understand broader student outcomes. Project team: Brian Jacob, Triana Kazaleh Sirdenis, Chihiro Tanigawa, and Megan Jagolinzer, with partners Dr. Jason Baron (Duke University), Angela Duckworth (University of Pennsylvania), and Dr. Thomas Dee, Dr. Hunt Allcott, and Dr. Matt Gentzkow (Stanford University); Dr. Richard Miech (University of Michigan) is working with the team on the MTF analysis.
