The school phone ban saga is beginning to take over the U.S. as schools claim that phones have become a distraction that takes away from learning. Not all districts are using this ban, though, and many use different variations.

Since the beginning of this school year, many news outlets have been putting out stories about how schools are banning students’ phones. Not all schools are adopting this new rule, but many states have already implemented this new law. In an k by NPR’s Sequoia Carrillo, she talked to Brigette Whaley, who is an associate professor of education at West Texas A&M University and who “expects to see ‘a more equitable environment’ in classrooms with higher student engagement. Last year, she tracked the success of a cell phone ban in one West Texas high school by surveying teachers throughout the year. They reported more participation by students and also said they saw student anxiety plummet—mainly because students weren’t afraid of being filmed at any moment and embarrassing themselves. ‘They could relax in the classroom and participate,’ she said. ‘And not be so anxious about what other students were doing.’” In this interview, they went on to talk about how this new phone ban is providing good results with bipartisan support, resulting in widespread adoption in around thirty-four states and Washington, D.C.

Many say that phones bring distractions and disruptions to classroom life, and many agree that phones bring anxiety and damage mental health in teenagers. Currently, in Wisconsin, there is not a law yet that bans phones from all districts, though there is a bill being debated as of September 2025. According to the Wisconsin Policy Forum, “The issue has been particularly salient for teachers, many of whom increasingly find themselves competing with devices for their students’ attention. In a Pew Research survey released last year, 72% of high school teachers who responded said that students being distracted by their cell phones is a ‘major problem in their classroom’”. In this same article, they talk about how Wisconsin has adopted a patchwork solution and let each district decide for themselves. Mostly, through their survey, they concluded that many of the smaller districts have taken a harsher stance on the new rule, while in the bigger districts answers vary. As of right now, MMSD has taken a middle-ground stance and allows high schoolers to use phones in common areas but not middle schoolers. Overall, school phone bans are being adopted throughout the U.S., with more benefits, they say, than negative effects.

Now, although many believe that the phone ban is good for teenage health, in a Newsweek article from June, we hear Dr. Isha Metzger’s opinion on the ban. Dr. Metzger is an associate professor at Georgia State University and researches youth mental health. She told Newsweek, “From a mental health perspective, it’s important to recognize that while cell phones can be a source of distraction, they can also be tools for connection, support, and safety. Schools that take a balanced approach to promoting digital literacy, healthy cell phone habits (including teaching students how to regulate their phone use), and mental health awareness will likely create more positive, inclusive learning environments in the long run.” We can see that not everyone is on board with this new ban on technology. As Dr. Metzger said, phones can be a tool of connection, and that goes along with other opinions you can find online saying that electronics help students and their social lives. Though others disagree, NPR says that some schools have used phone lock pouches for kids but then share how some of them have been destroyed. They also talk about how “In Delaware, Rosalie Morales oversees the state’s pilot program for cell phone bans and the $250,000 attached to it. As the program enters its second year, she’s surveyed the schools that participated last year. ‘The response from teachers is definitely supportive,’ Morales says. ‘You’ll see a different response from students.’ They’re not wild about it. When asked if the ban should continue, 83% of the participating Delaware teachers said yes, while only 11% of students agreed. Morales hopes that as time passes, that will change as students see the benefits.”

As you can see, this phone ban can be a lot of strain for states, districts, teachers, and students alike. As you may have seen in middle schools or last year at VPM, teachers have been given a lot of responsibility on the phones that they don’t always follow. These school bans can cost a lot of money, make students dislike their school, and cause stress on the district for deciding what to do. All in all, not everyone thinks the phone ban is good, and the evidence shows that although there are benefits in student life and grades, the bans can take a great toll on everyone involved in learning.

Overall, the school phone ban has lots of evidence both supporting it and refuting it. We can clearly see how each state and district is taking varying stances on the new rule, and the future of students’ devices is uncertain. The current situation for Wisconsin’s students’ phones is a bill that has to pass through the Senate with a July 2026 deadline.