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U.S. schools and states limit classroom screens and devices amid privacy and focus concerns

Legislators and school districts are imposing phone bans and classroom screen restrictions, even as most districts maintain their overall ed tech investments.

Updated Aug 31, 2026 · 18:23 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • At least 39 states and Washington, D.C., now prohibit cell phone use in public schools, while states like Utah and Alabama have passed broader laws restricting classroom screen time.
  • New York City suspended access to classroom educational technology tools while officials deliberate policies on artificial intelligence.
  • Despite growing parent pushback and privacy concerns, 74 percent of surveyed school leaders say they have not reduced their ed tech investments.
  • Research on the long-term educational impact of screen bans and AI tools in schools remains mixed and evolving.

Key facts

  • At least 39 states and Washington, D.C., have implemented bans on student cell phone use in public schools.[Scientific American]
  • Utah and Alabama enacted classroom screen time limits in March, with Utah restricting devices for students in grades K–3.[Scientific American]
  • A Utah State Board of Education investigation discovered that 61 percent of surveyed educational software shared student data with third parties and 36 percent shared data with advertisers.[Scientific American]
  • New York City administrators instituted a temporary technology freeze to deliberate artificial intelligence policies before the school year.[Scientific American]
  • Meta agreed to introduce a 'school mode' feature to restrict access to Instagram during school hours as part of a legal settlement.[Scientific American]
  • An EdWeek Research Center survey found that 74 percent of teachers and school leaders have not cut educational technology spending despite pushback from parents.[Scientific American]

What remains uncertain

  • Scientific research on the educational efficacy of classroom digital platforms shows varied results depending on whether tools encourage active engagement or simple repetition.[Scientific American]
  • Studies evaluating school phone bans show mixed long-term outcomes, with initial increases in disciplinary incidents turning into decreases in subsequent years without clear impacts on test scores.[Scientific American]

Sources