Phone bans in schools leading to improved classroom focus, more reading

Mickaela Castillo and InvestigateTV Staff, WHSV 3

(InvestigateTV) — By the time they’re in grade school, many kids know how to use a cell phone. Around 42% of kids have a phone by age 10 and 71% by age 12, according to a 2021 report.

While they keep families connected, teachers say once the school bell rings, phones become a distraction.

A 2025 JAMA study found children spend an average of 40 minutes on social media and 13 minutes on entertainment apps during school hours.

In order to address this, state lawmakers stepped in. In 2025 alone, more than a dozen states passed legislation to restrict or ban cell phones in schools.

‍

Read the full article here.