Beyond the Ban: School Smartphone Policies, Implementation Challenges, and Student Outcomes
Sep 23, 2026 — 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Join us for the next event in our Research Conversations Series entitled “Beyond the Ban” with Professor John Ranellucci and Professor Sachin Maharaj. Register for this event on September 23, 2026, at 12 PM.
Description
School smartphone restrictions have emerged as a significant and controversial education policy trend over the past few years. Drawing on two recent studies conducted in Canada, this session examines both the implementation of school phone restrictions and their potential longer-term effects on students. The first study investigates teacher perspectives on the rollout of a student phone policy in Canada's largest school district, highlighting important differences between elementary and secondary schools and the critical role of enforcement, leadership, and community support. The second study explores how the smartphone policies students experienced in high school relate to their smartphone use habits and self-control as undergraduates. Together, these findings move the conversation beyond whether schools should restrict phones to a more nuanced discussion of how policy implementation shapes educational outcomes and student development.
John Ranellucci
Associate Professor and Vice-Dean of Research and professional development
John Ranellucci is an Associate Professor and the Vice-Dean of Research and Professional Development in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa. His research focuses on generating and confirming achievement motivation theories focused on the relations between motivation, emotions, learning, and achievement in academic settings and on the application of these theories in authentic learning contexts with an underlying goal of promoting affective and learning gains among diverse student populations.
Sachin Maharaj
Assistant professor of Educational Leadership, Policy and Program Evaluation
Sachin Maharaj is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, Policy and Program Evaluation in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa and is the President of the Canadian Association for the Study of Educational Administration. Prior to becoming a professor, Dr. Maharaj was a high school teacher for 14 years at the Toronto District School Board. His research utilizes mixed-methods to examine policy implementation across provinces, districts, and schools in Canada. Professor Maharaj is also a contributor to the Toronto Star and regularly appears in media outlets like CBC, CTV, Al Jazeera, Maclean’s and TVO.