Overview
- Late August school openings saw multiple large districts begin enforcing new state laws that require K–12 schools to restrict student use of phones and other internet-enabled devices during the school day.
- Districts are using a wide mix of approaches — bell-to-bell bans, schedule-based windows, Yondr lockable pouches, lockers, backpacks 'no-show' rules and centralized collection — with choices varying by urban, suburban and charter schools.
- Local disputes have intensified where districts extend bans into lunch or passing periods, prompting parent protests and board meetings in places such as Birmingham, Michigan.
- Academic studies, including work cited from the National Bureau of Economic Research and University of Michigan researchers, report only modest or limited gains in test scores and mixed effects on attention, attendance and bullying, with an adjustment period that can raise disciplinary incidents.
- Laws and guidance require exemptions for students with disabilities, medical or translation needs and caregivers, and force districts to resolve practical questions about cost, who enforces rules and how parents reach children in emergencies.