A new National Bureau of Economic Research working paper examining phone bans finds near-zero average effects on test scores and related measures such as bullying and attendance, according to a large dataset spanning thousands of schools. The study analyzed data from roughly 4,600 schools, concluding that bans produced virtually no net improvement—though effects were slightly positive in high schools and slightly negative in middle schools. The findings also highlight the policy environment’s shifting technology mix. As phones are restricted, computers remain heavily used for assessments and homework, and the same reporting points to research associating increased computer use with test score declines for 15-year-olds in international comparisons. For higher education professionals designing student success and readiness supports, the implication is practical: technology restriction policies may not yield the intended learning gains without broader instructional design changes. The study also underscores the importance of evaluating policies with rigorous outcome measures rather than assumptions about distraction alone.