Stricter Cell Phone Policies Associated with Reductions in Student Phone Use

For Release

WednesdayMay 13, 2026

RAND study finds half of students still check their phones during class

Stricter school cell phone policies are associated with less student phone use during class, but even the most restrictive policies do not stop phone checking entirely, according to a new RAND report.

Even in relatively restrictive policy environments where students are not allowed to use their phones at all at school, half of students reported checking their phones during their classes at least once per day. Roughly one-sixth said they did so more than five times per day. In the most lenient environments, roughly 8 in 10 students reported checking their phones during class at least once per day, including about one-third who did so frequently, according to the report.