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

(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.

District implements storage system

Arizona was one of those states. The state’s law tasked each district with planning, implementing and enforcing restrictions.

One district’s method has reportedly shown success so far. As students come in, they place their phones in assigned numbered boxes.

“It is night and day. They’re here on time ready to work,” said Angela Weddle, a teacher.

The Casa Grande Union High School District approved a policy that requires students to keep their phones in a box during class and away during the duration of the school day.

“With everyone being on the same page, all of the teachers, all of the staff understanding that it’s important to our kids, it’s helpful,” Weddle said.

Evelyn Maldonado, a senior at Vista Grande, said that at first she was hesitant about the mandate, but now she prefers it.

“Initially I definitely was bummed out because like every teenager I like being on my phone, but I think now that I’m immersed in it, I think it’s a lot better for me, especially in class,” Maldonado said. “I’ve noticed myself I can get my homework done during class because I’m not sitting there scrolling on my phone.”

Reading revival emerges from digital detox

As more school districts across the country ban students from using cell phones, an unexpected upside may be emerging from the digital detox: a reading revival.

With new screen time restrictions in place, students in at least one Kentucky school district are checking out a record number of books. At Pleasure Ridge Park High School, the librarian said they’re flying off the shelves.

“We’ve checked out 4,200 books in the first three months of school, which is twice what we checked out last year for the whole year,” said Erin Reed, librarian.

“I love talking about books. It’s like one of my favorite things to do to sit down and talk about a book that I read,” said Brooklyn, a student.

It’s not just Kentucky.

In the first few months of the 2025-2026 school year, Portland Public Schools in Oregon saw a 15% increase in book checkouts compared to the same period the previous year. The school district already prohibits personal electronic devices during school hours.