Many US K-12 Schools Adopt or Consider Stricter Cellphone Policies

Across the U.S., nearly 40 states have proposed restrictions on K-12 student cellphone use, with about 20 states and D.C. implementing "bell-to-bell" bans in 2026. These measures aim to improve student attention, engagement, and academic performance, driven by concerns over declining test scores. Some schools report academic improvements following these bans.