NEW NATIONAL PARENT SURVEY

From Awareness to Action: A Blueprint for Phone‑Free Schools

We surveyed 1,000 parents of public school students, ages nine to seventeen, to understand how personal devices affect learning, well-being, and school culture. The results show broad agreement that phones are doing more harm than good, highlight a critical risk window in the early teen years, and point to clear actions that schools and leaders can take now.

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  • See what 1,000 parents really think about phones in school.
  • Understand how devices are shaping learning, wellbeing, and school culture.
  • Get clear next steps for advocates, administrators, and legislators who want phone-free schools.

Key Takeaways

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Broad agreement:

Parents across backgrounds see more harm than help from phones in school.

Need for consistency:

Families want clear, phone-free expectations that create a healthier school environment.

Critical age window:

Harms rise sharply around age 13 as phone and social-media use increases.

Leadership matters:

Parents look to schools and policymakers to set firm standards.

Actionable insights:

The data points directly to steps schools and leaders can take now.

Who This is For

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Advocates

Parents, educators, and community partners who need credible data and language to push for phone-free policies in their schools.

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Administrators

Principals and system leaders who want to reduce distraction, restore instructional time, and build consistent expectations in classrooms.

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Legislators

Policymakers and staff that are weighing state level standards and need evidence of bipartisan parent support and practical implementation.