AKRON, Ohio — The Akron Public Schools Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved a plan that would remove students' access to their phones during the school day during the coming year.
Almost anywhere kids go to school these days, cell phones have become part of the classroom experience — whether teachers like it or not.
"Screen time is just too high," Steve Thompson, Akron Public Schools' new COO, said. "Cell phones, for different reason, negatively impact a lot of our kids."
Thompson said when the district looked at how to tackle challenges students face like bullying, distractions, and mental health issues, "they kept coming back to the same thing: the cell phone, the cell phone, the cell phone." That's what led the district to launch a pilot program with Yondr at three of its schools.
Students in those schools were given a Yondr pouch that they were required to lock their phones into before entering the building each day. The kids carry the pouch with them throughout the day, but a magnetic lock prevents them from accessing their phone inside.
At the end of the day, a magnetic unlocking system is set up in the halls where students can unlock the pouches before heading home.
Near the end of the pilot program, a district survey with nearly 200 teachers found 96% either agreed or strongly agreed that students are more productive when their phone is in a Yondr pouch. Eighty-eight percet agreed the program had lowered classroom disruption, and 91% agreed it cut back on distractions, resulting in more learning opportunities.
"I would submit to you that this is an effective policy," Thompson said.
Seventy-seven percent of parents surveyed told the district they believe there are negative effects to using phones in schools. However, of the 111 parents who responded, almost half also said cell phone use during school is necessary to support student learning.
The success of the program prompted the district to recommend expanding the program to all schools that serve sixth to 12th graders. The resolution, which passed 6-0 at Monday's board meeting, will impact about 10,000 students, or nearly half the district's student population.
"Ultimately, I hope that we see increased academic achievement from our students because they're more focused and less distracted in the classrooms," Thompson said.