Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Oct. 9, 2025
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Schools and Cell Phone Bans
Classroom disruptions. Mental health concerns. Cyberbullying.
Across the United States, cell phones seem to be causing issues for students and headaches for educators. That's why more than two dozen states have passed legislation restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools. Many school districts have rolled out their own bans, too.
What do these policies look like in practice? And what do principals and students think about them? New RAND survey results offer some answers.
What schools are doing: Nearly all K-12 schools that took part in the survey allow students to bring their phones to school. But two-thirds prohibit cell phone use from "bell to bell"--that is, during the entire school day. Other policies range from allowing cell phone use at teachers' discretion to all-out bans.
What principals are saying: Eighty-six percent of principals in schools with cell phone restrictions endorse the safety-related benefits. These include positive impacts on school climate, a reduction in inappropriate cell phone use, and a drop in cyberbullying.
What students are saying: Sixty percent of youth support at least some limits on cell phones, mainly to cut down on distractions. But most are skeptical of bell-to-bell restrictions. The most common reason they cited was that they felt parents should be able to reach them when needed.
School leaders face tough choices when it comes to cell phone policies. They are committed to improving safety and ensuring students stay focused on learning. At the same time, they must find ways to maintain communication between students and their families.
RAND survey results show the percentage of schools adopting different policies:
- Can bring cell phones to school: 95 percent
- No cell phone use while school is in session (i.e., bell-to-bell policy): 67 percent
- Cell phone use only during non-class time: 16 percent
- Cell phone use during non-class and class time (at the teacher's discretion): 9 percent
- Cannot bring cell phones to school: 5 percent
- No cell phone use policy: 3 percent
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The Risk of Preventive Attacks in the Race for AGI
Could the race for artificial general intelligence lead nations toward acts of war--either to secure technological advantages or to deny their rivals such benefits? RAND experts consider the risk of such preventive attacks in a new paper. They conclude that the probability of war is low. However, a fundamental dilemma remains: "The more powerful the technology is, the more it has the potential to lead to international conflict."
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The Link Between School Policy and Community Policy
During her time as a schoolteacher in Philadelphia, RAND's Heather Schwartz learned firsthand how neighborhood challenges like poverty and housing instability can shape students' experiences. "The challenges outside the school walls walk right in with the students," she says. Now, as vice president and director of RAND Education, Employment, and Infrastructure, she leads a team of experts tackling these cross-sector issues head-on. Schwartz shares insights about this vital work in a new Q&A.
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** Events
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RAND Europe Foresight Forum
Monday, October 13, 2025 (London)
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China's Economic Future
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 (London)
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An Examination of Migration in Afghanistan
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 (Online)
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The 'Big Shift' from Hospitals to Communities
Thursday, November 6, 2025 (Online)
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** Policy Minded, RAND's Flagship Podcast
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On Policy Minded, we pick the brains of the world's top policy experts. In each episode, RAND researchers join us for conversations that go beyond the headlines--bringing you insights you can't find anywhere else.
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