Phone-Free Educational Environment Pilot

Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, Kimmons Middle School and Ramsey Middle School will pilot a phone-free environment.

What Does Phone-Free Mean?

From the beginning of the school day until the end, students will be required to secure their cell phones in their backpacks or pockets. This initiative is designed to minimize distractions and encourage a more focused and engaged learning atmosphere.

At the beginning of the second nine weeks, if not earlier, the two participating schools will transition to using Yondr pouches. These pouches allow students to lock their phones, earbuds, and smartwatches in a secure pouch, which they will keep with them throughout the day. This ensures that phones are accessible in case of an emergency but are otherwise unavailable for use during school hours.

How Does it Work?

Every student will secure their phone in their personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school each morning. They will maintain possession of their phones but will not use them until they are unlocked at the end of the school day. Students are required to bring their Yondr pouch to and from school each day and are responsible for their pouch at all times.

Why a Phone-Free Environment?

We understand that cell phones have great utility, but cell phone use has increasingly become a source of distraction, antisocial behavior, and conflict both at home and at school. Research shows that the mere presence of cell phones in the classroom can be detrimental to student performance. According to a survey and report from Common Sense Media, 50% of teens feel attached to their mobile devices, and 59% of their parents agree that their kids have a problem putting their devices down (U.S. News & World Report).

Studies have shown that limiting cell phone usage in schools can lead to improved academic performance and enhanced student engagement. According to a study by the London School of Economics, schools that implemented a phone ban saw a 6.4% increase in test scores. Additionally, the presence of phones has been linked to increased anxiety and decreased attention spans among students. By reducing these distractions, we aim to create a more conducive learning environment.

In 2019, Yondr surveyed over 400 school partners to measure the effects of creating phone-free educational environments. These schools achieved notable progress in multiple areas:

• 69% of schools saw an improvement in academic performance
• 84% of schools saw an increase in student engagement in the classroom
• 80% of schools saw a decrease in behavior referrals