Education News 22 October 2025 - 21 January 2026

AI in schools: A teacher goes “analog” as educators warn about Pinterest-style classroom clutter
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AI in schools: A teacher goes “analog” as educators warn about Pinterest-style classroom clutter

A Fort Worth high school English teacher has banned generative AI and requires nearly all assignments to be handwritten, rejecting school-issued laptops. Chanea Bond said students relied on AI for thesis statements and weren’t engaging with literature. Some students said the shift felt strange but made them think more. Other districts, including Miami-Dade, are expanding official access to AI tools.
January 29, 2026
Which U.S. states really ban phones at school? A new report card ranks them as UK tightens rules
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Which U.S. states really ban phones at school? A new report card ranks them as UK tightens rules

North Dakota and Rhode Island received top grades for “phone-free” school policies in a new national report card released Tuesday. Tennessee earned a “C,” while Montana and South Dakota scored zero. Thirty-eight U.S. states now have laws or policies regulating student cellphone use, Ballotpedia said. Britain ordered schools to go “phone-free by default” this week and launched a consultation on children’s social media use.
January 21, 2026
Kansas could ban student cellphones bell-to-bell — here’s what SB 302 would do
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Kansas could ban student cellphones bell-to-bell — here’s what SB 302 would do

Kansas lawmakers heard divided testimony this week on Senate Bill 302, which would ban student use of personal electronic devices during all school hours statewide. The Kansas Board of Education stayed neutral but prefers local control. The bill offers no extra funding, with implementation costs estimated at $13.4 million. Both parties back the measure; Gov. Laura Kelly supports it.
January 17, 2026
Michigan’s classroom cellphone ban bill is back — and headed to the Senate
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Michigan’s classroom cellphone ban bill is back — and headed to the Senate

The Michigan House passed House Bill 4141, which would require public and charter schools to restrict student smartphone use during class, with exceptions for medical needs and emergencies. The bill excludes private schools and allows districts to set stricter rules. The measure now moves to the Senate, with supporters targeting implementation for the 2026-27 school year. Governor Whitmer has called the issue a priority.
January 16, 2026
UW-Linked Study: Teens Spend 70 Minutes on Phones at School as Phone-Free Policies Surge in 2026
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UW-Linked Study: Teens Spend 70 Minutes on Phones at School as Phone-Free Policies Surge in 2026

U.S. teens spend an average of 1.16 hours daily on smartphones during school hours, mostly on social media, according to a University of Washington-linked study using passive phone monitoring. The research tracked 640 adolescents from 2022 to 2024 and found higher use among older and lower-income teens. The findings come as more states and countries adopt stricter school phone bans and under-16 social media restrictions.
January 12, 2026
Pennsylvania ‘Phone-Free Schools’ Bill Heads to Senate Floor: What SB 1014 Would Change for Students, Parents, and Teachers (Dec. 12, 2025)
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Pennsylvania ‘Phone-Free Schools’ Bill Heads to Senate Floor: What SB 1014 Would Change for Students, Parents, and Teachers (Dec. 12, 2025)

The Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee unanimously advanced SB 1014, a bill requiring all schools to adopt policies restricting student cellphone use during the school day. The measure, now headed to the full Senate, allows districts to decide enforcement methods and requires schools to provide staffed contact options for parents. Exceptions include medical needs, disability plans, and approved instructional use.
December 12, 2025
School Phone Bans in 2025: Do They Really Help Kids — Or Is “Age‑Appropriate Design” the Missing Piece?
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School Phone Bans in 2025: Do They Really Help Kids — Or Is “Age‑Appropriate Design” the Missing Piece?

A major Florida study found school cellphone bans raised test scores and reduced absences, especially among boys and older students, after an initial rise in suspensions. At least 22 U.S. states and several countries have adopted or expanded bans. UK research indicates bans alone do not improve mental health. Experts urge combining restrictions with digital education and safer tech design.
November 14, 2025
Shocking: Students’ Test Scores Rise When Cell Phones Are Banned, New Study Finds
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Shocking: Students’ Test Scores Rise When Cell Phones Are Banned, New Study Finds

Test scores in a Florida district rose 2–3 percentile points in the second year of a strict cell phone ban, with attendance gains driving about half the increase. Suspension rates more than doubled during the first year of enforcement but returned to near-normal by year two. Nationwide, about 20 states now require school phone bans. Researchers found the academic gains were modest and uneven, with Black and female students seeing little benefit.
October 22, 2025