Lockable Phone Pouches in Schools Can Improve Student Well-Being over Time, Not Test Scores or Bullying

School phone bans boost wellness but not test scores, study says, as Pa. mulls statewide policy

As Pennsylvania lawmakers continue to try to forge a deal on a statewide school cell phone policy, a wide-ranging study has found that phone bans improve students’ well-being, but not necessarily their test scores.A working paper released Monday by scholars at four universities found that locking up students’ phones had a long-term positive effect on their self-reported wellness.

Lockable phone pouches in schools can improve student well-being over time, not test scores or bullying

A popular device for restricting cell phone use in middle and high schools is effective at achieving that aim, leading to short-term disruption but ultimately positive effects on student well-being, new research finds. The U.S. study conducted by a University of Michigan researcher and co-authors further reveals the restriction—lockable phone pouches—shows no impact on test scores, attendance, classroom attention or online bullying.

The Effects of School Phone Bans: National Evidence from Lockable Pouches

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