This school year, millions of students are experiencing something new: policies that require phones, smartwatches, and other devices to be put away for the day.
The science is clear about why this matters. Phone-free schools improve students’ mental health, sharpen their learning, and strengthen their sense of belonging, while also reducing bullying. The benefits are being documented globally. In the Netherlands, a recent study compared schools before and after adopting away-for-the-day policies and found that the majority of students reported their social lives had improved.
Parents are noticing as well. In Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition, a longtime Dutch teacher shared that he had never received so many thank-you notes from families as he did after his school adopted phone-free policies.
Teachers have been calling for this change for a long time. Jonathan Haidt, featured in both Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age and Screenagers Elementary School Age Edition, has put it bluntly: “I hear from teachers every day who say they’re quitting because it’s just no fun anymore. You can’t get the kids’ attention.”
It is no wonder teachers, like parents, are celebrating. In Screenagers Next Chapter, a Washington principal recalls that when she announced the new rules, her staff literally cheered. Recent data reveals the level of teachers’ excitement.
Of course, any shift this big comes with mixed emotions. Parents sometimes worry about losing the ability to text their child instantly. Students miss the comfort and distraction their devices provide. Teachers and staff feel the pressure of being enforcers. These feelings are valid and deserve compassion.
Even with the best intentions, rules only work if they’re enforced, and enforcement can be complicated.
Students, for example, are ingenious at finding workarounds. One ninth grader told us he was approached by a senior selling a “subscription plan” to unlock Yondr pouches with a hidden magnet for $100 a year.
School schedules add further wrinkles. Oregon now requires “bell-to-bell” phone bans, but high schoolers who leave campus for lunch often take their phones with them. In Phoenix-Talent, Superintendent Brent Barry worried that students might skip the district’s free meals just to find phone time.
Policy gaps are another challenge. Many states, including my own, Washington, still don’t have laws requiring phone-free schools, leaving coverage uneven.
Even where rules exist, temptation is never far away. Phones are easily accessible when in backpacks and can be used in bathrooms, or dummy phones are put in required pouches.
And then there is the human side. Families can feel uneasy when they can’t reach each other right away, and kids themselves sometimes feel unsettled without that instant line to home. These tensions are real, and they remind us that implementing change isn’t just about rules; it’s also about relationships.
Despite the hurdles, schools and countries are finding creative ways forward.
Concerning the issue above about Phoenix-Talent’s students missing lunch to go off campus, the administration has decided to offer grab-and-go lunches to ensure students can still eat even if they leave campus.
Regarding the issue of students being tempted to use their devices when stored in backpacks or lockers, France is addressing this with a pilot program in over 100 middle schools. The “digital pause” initiative requires students to store phones in secure boxes until the end of the day. Thus far, parents and teachers have responded with overwhelming approval, noting a clear improvement in school climate.
In response to the fact that some states do not yet have a plan for legislating away-for-the-day policies, The Becca Schmill Foundation, working with The Anxious Generation, Fairplay, and USC’s Neely Center, has drafted model legislation for Phone and Social Media Free Schools. Their proposal sets out a standard for prioritizing students’ mental health, academic focus, and social development.
And small acts matter too. Parents who send a thank-you card or email to their child’s school can reinforce the importance of these policies. Those words of support are noticed, just as that Dutch teacher experienced when his inbox filled with gratitude.
Implementing phone-free policies doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. At Screenagers, we’ve spent years creating resources that schools tell us make a real difference.
At launch events, communities can screen Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age or Screenagers: Elementary School Edition to spark conversations and build buy-in. Our Welcome to Our Phone-Free School PowerPoint helps administrators explain the reasoning behind the rules, while our classroom versions of the films allow students to see their experiences reflected on screen.
Throughout the year, schools can build momentum with additional films: Screenagers Next Chapter: Mental Health in the Digital Age (see trailer), and Screenagers Under the Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs, and Alcohol in the Digital Age (see trailer).
Our curriculum extends these lessons into the classroom, providing activities that reinforce the “why” behind phone-free policies. Teachers also use the curriculum as part of restorative practices when rules are broken, ensuring the focus stays on learning rather than punishment.
Beyond films and curriculum, schools can draw from our weekly Tech Talk Tuesday blog (over 500 posts for sharing in newsletters), our Parenting in the Screen Age podcast, and expert interviews on our YouTube and our student-led peer-to-peer club, Boosting Bravery. Free posters from our Away For The Day campaign can be printed and placed in hallways as a daily reminder of the shared commitment.
Phone-free schools are not about punishment; they’re about creating environments where students can focus, connect, and thrive. The stories from France, Oregon, and countless classrooms show us what’s possible when communities commit to this change. Yes, there are bumps along the way. But with empathy, creativity, and shared effort, phone-free schools can become not just a moment but a movement.
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This school year, millions of students are experiencing something new: policies that require phones, smartwatches, and other devices to be put away for the day.
The science is clear about why this matters. Phone-free schools improve students’ mental health, sharpen their learning, and strengthen their sense of belonging, while also reducing bullying. The benefits are being documented globally. In the Netherlands, a recent study compared schools before and after adopting away-for-the-day policies and found that the majority of students reported their social lives had improved.
Parents are noticing as well. In Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition, a longtime Dutch teacher shared that he had never received so many thank-you notes from families as he did after his school adopted phone-free policies.
Teachers have been calling for this change for a long time. Jonathan Haidt, featured in both Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age and Screenagers Elementary School Age Edition, has put it bluntly: “I hear from teachers every day who say they’re quitting because it’s just no fun anymore. You can’t get the kids’ attention.”
It is no wonder teachers, like parents, are celebrating. In Screenagers Next Chapter, a Washington principal recalls that when she announced the new rules, her staff literally cheered. Recent data reveals the level of teachers’ excitement.
Of course, any shift this big comes with mixed emotions. Parents sometimes worry about losing the ability to text their child instantly. Students miss the comfort and distraction their devices provide. Teachers and staff feel the pressure of being enforcers. These feelings are valid and deserve compassion.
Even with the best intentions, rules only work if they’re enforced, and enforcement can be complicated.
Students, for example, are ingenious at finding workarounds. One ninth grader told us he was approached by a senior selling a “subscription plan” to unlock Yondr pouches with a hidden magnet for $100 a year.
School schedules add further wrinkles. Oregon now requires “bell-to-bell” phone bans, but high schoolers who leave campus for lunch often take their phones with them. In Phoenix-Talent, Superintendent Brent Barry worried that students might skip the district’s free meals just to find phone time.
Policy gaps are another challenge. Many states, including my own, Washington, still don’t have laws requiring phone-free schools, leaving coverage uneven.
Even where rules exist, temptation is never far away. Phones are easily accessible when in backpacks and can be used in bathrooms, or dummy phones are put in required pouches.
And then there is the human side. Families can feel uneasy when they can’t reach each other right away, and kids themselves sometimes feel unsettled without that instant line to home. These tensions are real, and they remind us that implementing change isn’t just about rules; it’s also about relationships.
Should Students Use Phones During School Lockdowns? This emotional and critical question is explored in depth, featuring insights from a superintendent, police officer, principal, and safety expert. Discover why they advocate for phone bans, real-world consequences of phone use during emergencies, and survey results that might surprise you.
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We launched the Away For The Day movement in 2017 because we could see back then the detrimental impact of smartphone use in schools, not just on academics but also on the emotional wellbeing and social development of youth. The fact is research shows that Away For The Day is the way to go. This week we introduce our significantly updated Away For The Day campaign website to help you support cellphone bans at your schools or your kids’ schools.
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Last week, USA Today ran an outstanding article titled: “Schools don’t want kids on cellphones. Is banning them the solution?” Our team launched Away For The Day in December 2017 to provide science and tools to help more schools create policies in which phones are not with students during the school day, and we are pleased the USA Today article mentions the campaign. The moment of change is truly here. Unlike anything we have seen in the past, the rate at which schools and full districts are adopting away-for-the-day policies is outstanding! Read today’s blog for some highlights from the USA Today article.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
