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Is the cellphone ban Florida implemented in schools two years ago working?
Well, a new study finds that the lack of distraction significantly reduced unexcused absences which may have contributed to better test scores.
University of Rochester economist David Figlio helped conduct the study, “The Impact of Cellphone Bans in Schools on Student Outcomes: Evidence from Florida,” in an unidentified Florida school district.
He says it also found a spike in suspensions among non-compliant students shortly after the policy was implemented in 2023.
“Suspension rate more than doubled in the month after disciplinary enforcement started compared to the month before and was 25 percent higher compared to the same month in the school year right before the ban.”
Overall test scores increased by 0.6 percentiles compared to scores nationwide, “with the ban increasing spring test scores 1.1 percentiles in the second year relative to the spring test right before the ban took effect,” the study said.
"First, we show that the enforcement of cellphone bans in schools led to a significant increase in student suspensions in the short-term, especially among Black students, but disciplinary actions began to dissipate after the first year, potentially suggesting a new steady state after an initial adjustment period. Second, we find significant improvements in student test scores in the second year of the ban after that initial adjustment period. Third, the findings suggest that cellphone bans in schools significantly reduce student unexcused absences, an effect that may explain a large fraction of the test score gains."
The latest policy tweak allows Miami-Dade and Broward high school students access to their phones during lunch.