U.S. schools implement widespread cellphone bans

Schools across the United States are increasingly implementing restrictions on student cellphone use. Following legislative trends such as Florida's House Bill 1105, the Hawaii Board of Education adopted a bell-to-bell ban in February 2026. Hawaii Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi stated the policy aims to help students stay focused and strengthen in-person connections by addressing the challenges of constant digital access.

Research from the University of Southern California indicates that while enforcement of these restrictions tends to weaken during the first year of implementation, student attitudes often shift from negative to neutral. The study suggests that bell-to-bell bans are more effective than more lenient policies.

Public opinion remains divided; a Pew Research Center study found that 51% of teens aged 13 to 17 oppose statewide classroom phone bans, while 41% support them. Currently, 39 states and the District of Columbia have introduced requirements to restrict student cellphone use.