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FLORIDA - A recent study finds that Florida’s 2023 ban on student cellphone use during class has led to higher test scores and attendance, while also causing a rise in suspensions.
House Bill 379 prohibits students from using cellphones during instructional time unless directed by a teacher for educational purposes.
The law requires teachers to designate areas for phones, limits social media access on school networks, and instructs students in grades 6 through 12 about potential risks associated with social media.
Economists David Figlio of the University of Rochester and Umut Özek of the RAND Corporation analyzed Florida schools following the ban.
Their study found that in the second year of implementation, student test scores increased by an average of 1.1 percentile points, with the largest gains observed in middle and high school students.
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The research also showed a reduction in unexcused absences, which may have contributed to the improvement in academic performance.
However, the study also revealed unintended consequences.
Suspension rates more than doubled in the month after the ban’s enforcement compared with the month prior.
The increase was particularly notable among Black students.
Rates began to decrease after the first year, suggesting that schools adjusted to the new policy over time.
The researchers noted that while the cellphone ban appears to have positive effects on attendance and test performance, it is not a comprehensive solution.
Careful implementation and ongoing monitoring are necessary to ensure all students benefit equitably and to reduce disparities in disciplinary actions.
This draft working paper, scheduled for circulation by the National Bureau of Economic Research, provides early evidence of the impact of cellphone restrictions in schools.