As more states move to ban or restrict student cell phone use in schools, a Change Research national survey of 2,006 registered voters, conducted July 13–17, 2026, finds 80% supportive of such policies. Views on AI tools in K-12 education are more varied, with support ranging from 12% to 63% for different uses of AI.
Cell Phones in Schools
Our survey finds that 80% of voters support policies that ban or restrict student cell phone use in schools, with 17% opposed. The backing is wide across party lines: 84% of Democrats and 91% of Republicans support restrictions or bans. Among all voters, 49% strongly support such policies.
Support is somewhat lower among younger voters: 68% of voters aged 18 to 34 back cell phone restrictions, compared to 80% overall.
AI in the Classroom
Voters are most supportive of AI tools that help students learn without completing work for them. Using AI to help students understand a topic is supported by 63% of voters, with 34% opposed. Democrats’ and Republicans’ attitiudes align closely on this use case, with 60% and 64% in favor, respectively.
Support for more active uses is lower. The survey finds that 56% support using AI to check grammar or fix mistakes in students’ own writing, with 41% opposed; 52% support students’ use of AI to study or review for a test, with 44% opposed; and 49% support using AI for brainstorming, with 45% opposed.
Using AI to write assignments or produce answers for students is where opposition is clearest: 85% of voters oppose it, with 12% in support. Democrats’ and Republicans’ views are similar:10% of Democrats and 15% of Republicans support student use of AI in writing assignments or answers for them.
Parent Concerns
Among the 24% of respondents with children in grades K-12 in their households, school safety is the most common concern, cited across party lines and age groups. Worries about violence and bullying appear by a wide margin in open-ended responses.
“Bullying, mass shootings, and sexual misconduct of staff.”
Hispanic/Latino Woman, 35-49, Independent lean Democrat
“I’m most concerned with mass shootings. I’m utterly terrified to send my kids to school.”
White Woman, 35-49, Independent
The cost of school supplies and clothing is among the most common practical concerns, followed by worries about curriculum content. Technology in the classroom, including AI tools and device dependence, also comes up frequently.
“The reliance on artificial intelligence and devices.”
Hispanic/Latino Man, 35-49, Weak Democrat
Methodology
Change Research conducted this survey of 2,006 registered voters from July 13–17, 2026. The modeled margin of error is ±2.3%.
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