Public schools in Texas banned cellphones. One district has already seen 200,000 more library books checked out

For Gen Z and Gen Alpha, constant connectivity has been a rite of passage—opening the door to limitless information, but also near-constant distraction. Now, a growing number of states are betting that less screen time during the school day could pay off. This academic year, Texas joined more than two dozen states in restricting cellphone use from bell to bell in public schools, an effort aimed at curbing social media distractions, improving focus, and reducing cyberbullying. Just months in, early results suggest the shift is already changing student behavior. In the Dallas Independent School District—one of the largest in the country with more than 130,000 students—library book checkouts have jumped by over 200,000, a roughly 24% increase compared to last year, as of March 31. “I started hearing, ‘Oh, I’m so bored. I can’t get on my phone after I do my work or during lunchtime,'” Hillcrest High School librarian Nina Canales told CBS News. “Once they lock into these stories, they don’t seem to care about their phones at all.” John Kuhn, superintendent of the Abilene Independent School District, told The Texas Tribune that students were now spending more time having face-to-face conversations and even playing games like Uno at lunchtime—rather than staying glued to social media. “I’ve had teachers telling me they’ve noticed students are doing a better job making eye contact and just engaging in conversation than they were before,” he added. Critics of the restrictions point to safety concerns, including students’ ability to call 911 in an emergency, as well as the lack of a uniform, statewide approach. Still, the behavior shifts come as Texas students continue to struggle with literacy. Data from the 2024 Nation’s Report Card show average reading scores for both fourth and eighth graders declined from 2022 levels, continuing a nationwide downward trend that began before the pandemic. Among U.S. states, Texas ranked 44th