State phone policies have been passed in over 35 states and counting. But implementing a phone use policy in your school goes beyond just complying with a state law. It’s an important investment in your student and teachers’ wellbeing. 

You may not be required to implement a phone policy. Maybe you’re a private school who doesn’t have to comply with a state law but is interested in investing in your students’ wellbeing. Or maybe you’re a school in a state that hasn’t passed a law yet but is already having discussions about it. Either way, even if you don’t have to comply, you do want to do right by your students, teachers and families. 

So what’s the benefit of creating and enforcing a phone policy, even if your state doesn’t mandate it by law? 

Context

Today’s students are navigating a complex digital landscape. Research shows that students spend nearly an hour on their devices at school, and 4-6 hours on their devices daily, if not more. Excessive smartphone use is linked to the greater rates of anxiety, depression, and academic distraction seen across education. This has resulted in the wave of phone bans in states across the country. 

Students know they need to reduce their screen time (and they want to!). They just need a little help making that happen. 

Students regain focus 

Cell phones and personal devices are incredibly distracting for students, so implementing a phone use policy in your school or district helps students focus. Research suggests that it can take students up to 20 minutes to fully refocus after a single digital distraction. And increasingly, deep sustained learning is difficult for students. 

When schools restrict or ban cell phones, students regain focus. In a series of interviews with students, several students commented that they actually like their school’s phone ban. Nelson, a high school senior shared that “At first it sucked, but then you don’t even think about it during class”. Students want to be able to focus on their work so they can succeed. Implementing a phone policy helps students regain focus. 

A phone policy also benefits teachers. According to the NEA, managing student behavior is one of the leading causes of burnout for teachers, and managing phone use is part of that. And surveys show that schools with stricter phone policies lead to happier teachers. When students can focus, both students and teachers benefit. 

Students reclaim connection 

For those of us born pre-smartphones, we know how to operate in a device-free world. But most of our students did not grow up in that environment. And the cost? Connection with other human beings. Implementing a policy that restricts phone use in schools is a benefit because it helps students start to reclaim connection. 

A teacher we spoke with said, “Before, I’d be like, ‘Ok, you have free time’ and the class would erupt in talking. Then in the phone years, if I gave free time it would be silent. Everyone would just be on their phones.” These little moments of connection with their peers are important for students. Banning phones at school helps students have the space to talk, play, and connect with their friends instead of automatically scrolling through Instagram. 

Students also reclaim connection with their educators. It can be hard for students to feel trust, care and respect for their teachers if they have to constantly play phone police. Placing the burden of enforcement on teachers chips away at the rapport they worked so hard to build with their students. Implementing an automatically enforced phone policy keeps phones away without hurting the student-teacher relationship. 

Conclusion 

Although you may not need to implement a phone policy by law, choosing to restrict or ban phones in school can be beneficial to students, teachers, and staff. Most importantly, it can help students regain focus and reclaim connection. 

Want to develop your school or district’s phone policy? Let’s connect.