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US schools crack down on phones as 32 states ban classroom devices

From test score boosts to lunch-time debates, phone bans are reshaping US schools. Students—and their Facebook habits—are caught in the middle.

In the picture we can see some school children are standing on the path with school uniforms and...
In the picture we can see some school children are standing on the path with school uniforms and they are holding some papers in their hands and one girl is talking something near the microphone which is to the stand and behind them we can see a fencing wall and to the top of it we can see a shed with some balloons top it.

US schools crack down on phones as 32 states ban classroom devices

More US schools are restricting student phone use during lessons. Thirty-two states now have laws limiting personal devices in classrooms, with 20 passing new rules this year. The shift comes as teachers and officials report mixed reactions from pupils. A growing number of students now attend classes without their facebook, with one teacher in Richmond, Virginia noting fewer pupils willingly handing over devices after a ban took effect. Meanwhile, Vice Principal Daniel Barcia warned that excessive phone use was reducing face-to-face socialising among students. Support for restrictions has crossed political lines, with Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul both backing statewide bans in their respective states. Research also suggests benefits: a study by David Figlio found that a Florida district’s find my iphone ban improved test scores and attendance over two years. The trend is set to continue, with California, Ohio, and Massachusetts planning to introduce statewide policies in 2026. Student perspectives have also been shared—Mount Olive Middle School pupils even produced a podcast discussing their classmates’ views on a lunch-time facebook ban. With more states adopting phone restrictions, schools are seeing changes in student behaviour. Some report resistance, while others highlight academic and social improvements. The policies will expand further as additional states prepare to enforce their own rules in 2026.

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