David Figlio

David Figlio, a professor of economics, and Kathy Do, an education research scientist from UCLA, dive into the implications of school cell phone bans. They discuss how phones, while integral to student connection and learning, can also distract and create inequities. The guests present a fascinating study showing that banning phones improved test scores and attendance but raised disciplinary issues, particularly for Black students. They explore the tension between the need for parental contact during crises and the benefits of phone-free classrooms for engagement and focus.