Matt Robinson is Paragon Health Institute’s Executive Vice President. In this role, he serves as a strategic partner to the President in helping to implement organizational vision, provide operational direction, and monitor progress toward annual goals across the institute. He joins Paragon with more than 20 years of experience in executive leadership, policy engagement, and communications in both government and the private sector.
Bill Spotlight: Rhode Island Ban on Smartphones
Rhode Island’s Legislation Requiring School Policies on Personal Electronic Devices
Status: Enacted, June 26, 2025
Prime sponsors: Sen. Melissa Murray and Rep. Julie A. Casimiro
Summary
To improve student well-being and academic performance and address emerging concerns related to students’ use of smartphones during school, the legislation mandates that schools implement policies ensuring smartphones and similar devices are stored in inaccessible locations throughout the entire school day, including non-instructional periods.
Key Provisions of the Legislation
- Every public school must adopt a policy that prohibits students, with limited exceptions, from having physical access to smart devices during the entire school day.
- The school district must file its plan with the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Expected Results
- Improved student academic achievement
- Improved student socialization, relationships, and mental health
- Eased enforcement for educators and school staff by enabling enforcement of clear and consistent rules
Policy Rationale
The policy aims to foster environments conducive to academic engagement and social interaction, based on evidence linking device restrictions to improved outcomes. With the advent of smartphones and social media, youth mental health challenges have intensified, with studies indicating a correlation between smartphone use and increased anxiety, depression, and social isolation among adolescents. For instance, national trends show a rise in teen mental health issues since the widespread adoption of smartphones around 2012.
The Paragon’s review of the literature on smartphone bans in schools highlights that such policies can lead to measurable improvements in academic focus and classroom behavior, particularly benefiting lower-achieving and disadvantaged students who may be more vulnerable to distractions.
Evidence from international and early U.S. studies supports potential cost savings through reduced need for behavioral interventions and mental health support services in schools. Health outcomes may improve via decreased bullying and enhanced social interactions, as students report higher concentration and more face-to-face engagement under comprehensive bans.
Educational opportunity is enhanced by minimizing disruptions, allowing for better instructional time utilization. Teacher retention could benefit from reduced classroom management burdens, while regulatory impact involves minimal additional costs for schools, primarily in policy development and storage solutions like pouches or lockers. Projections from the literature suggest modest but consistent gains in standardized test scores, with one Spanish study showing a 6.4 percent increase in average test performance following a ban.
Resources to Learn More
- Link to state legislation: 2025-S 0771A, 2025-H 5598A
- Nonpartisan reports or evaluations: Phone-Free Schools State Report Card at org
- Related Paragon publications or blog posts: “Banning Smartphones in Schools: Review of the Literature Shows Positive Impact” (January 5, 2026) at org/public-health/banning-smartphones-in-schools
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