CONCORD - The recently enacted full-day restriction on cell phones in schools is proving successful in cutting down on classroom interruptions and boosting student attention, based on feedback from principals and instructors in a new survey by the Department of Education.

Close to 80 percent of teachers polled toward the close of the first year under the device prohibition rated the rules as very or somewhat successful at limiting distractions, with 88 percent of administrators sharing that view.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte noted the push to remove cell phones from learning spaces is delivering results and expressed strong optimism about the gains schools are reporting. She added that distraction-free rooms let teachers teach effectively, help students absorb material, and encourage face-to-face interaction among pupils.

The statewide measure passed during the 2025 session and directs school boards along with charter schools to enforce a bell-to-bell ban that stops all personal electronic devices from the opening to the closing bell.

Each board and charter school sets its own enforcement details.

The spring poll, which drew responses from 1,487 teachers and 198 administrators, found 77 percent of teachers now report never or rarely seeing phones used for non-instructional reasons.

A prior 2025 poll had shown 68 percent of teachers noticing such use before the mandate took effect.

Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, said educators and administrators alike see the ban fostering more focused and engaged learning settings where students connect better with lessons and classmates.

She stressed continued backing for the uniform statewide approach because it sets clear expectations and frees teachers from constant monitoring duties, while pledging ongoing work with families and officials to keep rules steady.

The latest poll examined effects on daily school life.

Three-quarters of respondents said students appear more attentive and less sidetracked during lessons.

Roughly 60 percent noted improved social skills, stronger peer ties, and increased in-person talk during breaks.

About 60 percent also observed students feeling less urge to reach for their devices.

Thirty percent of teachers and 42 percent of administrators reported fewer behavior issues.

While roughly 75 percent of teachers feel supported by administrators on enforcement, one-quarter do not.

Views differ on how uniformly consequences are applied, with half of teachers seeing consistency compared to 80 percent of administrators.

Forty percent of teachers view enforcement as uneven, versus nine percent of administrators.

Teachers and administrators also split on academic gains, with 38 percent of teachers noting improvement against 33 percent of administrators.

Commissioner Caitlin Davis of the New Hampshire Department of Education expressed satisfaction that collective efforts are shifting classroom energy toward greater focus and connection, crediting the policy for stronger school communities.

The poll revealed varied storage approaches statewide.

About 60 percent of respondents described policies that let students keep phones out of sight.

Around 25 percent require phones stored in lockers or containers from the start of the day.

Additional methods include locked pouches, complete bans inside buildings, or teacher collection at the start of class with return at the end.

Public discussions during the 2025 session included parent concerns about reaching children, though some educators pointed out such contacts often disrupt lessons.

Lawmakers ultimately adopted the full-day ban on personal device use.

Many districts supply tablets for classwork, which remain allowed under the law.

The Department of Education cautioned that findings do not cover every educator in the state yet offer useful early insights into experiences with the policy. It also noted students were not included because state rules require prior consent for non-academic student surveys.