A new study has found the ban of cellphones in schools has had little effect on student performances in New York. Banning cellphones was supposed to improve many of the problems in schools, including distraction, bullying, declining test scores and absenteeism. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, a new study shows a meaningful decline in student cellphone use. However, it found the bans had a "close to zero" effect on test scores. The bans also did not improve student attendance or perceptions of online bullying. In the first year after strict bans went into place, student suspensions increased by an average of 16%.