(NewsNation) -- Students separated from their cellphones during the school day recorded fewer absences and better test scores in Florida, a new study found.
Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research showed learners in the Sunshine State have rebounded from an initial increase in suspensions following its 2023 statewide cellphone ban.
The most recent data pointed to a leveling out of disciplinary incidents and an increase in test scores -- up by about two or three percentiles compared to pre-ban scores, according to the researchers.
Researchers also noted that unexcused absences decreased, especially among middle and high school students.
The new study is not peer-reviewed and only looked at one large Florida school district, but researchers said it is the first evidence of the effects of a statewide cellphone ban.
Florida was the first state to pass such a law, but a majority of states have followed suit with laws banning or regulating cellphone use in schools.
With roughly 25% of children owning a cellphone by age 8, students across the nation are feeling the effects of these bans and regulations.
Superintendents at four school districts in Connecticut said they have not only seen academic improvement, but also improved mental health.
The principal at Lakeside High School near Atlanta told CBS News that faculty saw a positive change in student behavior after banning phones during the school day.