CLEVELAND — When the Cleveland Metropolitan School District resumes classes after summer break, there’s a new policy that will impact all students as the district announces a ban on the use of cell phones during school hours.
“Beginning this academic school year, all CMSD schools will create cell-phone-free environments to improve student learning and academic performance,” according to information posted on the district’s back-to-school page. “Each school will have a system in place for storing phones during school hours. Some schools will use the Yondr program, which provides secure pouches for phones. These pouches will stay with students throughout the school day, ensuring their phones are safely stored while minimizing distractions.”
Akron Public Schools currently uses Yondr, which is a pouch that secures cell phones so they aren’t accessible until unlocked.
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So how will this work for students in Cleveland schools? CMSD provided the following outline of their phone-free school initiative…
To enhance the teaching and learning experience, CMSD schools are becoming phone-free spaces by implementing the Yondr system, a solution already used in over 1,000 schools across 21 countries.
POLICY
According to CMSD’s board policy and Ohio House Bill 250, students who bring personal cell phones or electronic devices to school will have them stored in secure Yondr pouches during the school day to maintain a secure and orderly learning environment.
PROCEDURE
- Students will receive a personally assigned Yondr pouch upon arrival at school.
- Phones will be secured in the pouch and kept with the student, but inaccessible until the end of the school day.
- Students are responsible for their Yondr pouch throughout the day and should store it safely in their backpacks.
BENEFITS
Yondr has proven to significantly improve the learning environment:
- 65% of schools reported improved academic performance.
- 74% of schools observed better student behavior.
- 83% of schools saw increased student engagement in the classroom.
SUPPORT
For any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s school directly. In case of an emergency, please reach out to the main office at your child’s school.
- Reaching Your Child: Contact the main office during the school day.
- School Emergencies: Students will follow the school’s emergency preparedness protocol for safety.
- Phone Safety: Phones remain in students’ possession within the Yondr pouch, kept safe in their backpacks.
- Handling Pouch Issues: Damaging a pouch or unauthorized phone use will result in disciplinary actions as outlined by the school.