Rhode Island schools dial in on phone policies

(WJAR) — Schools all across the nation are working to get students’ attention away from their phones during the school day.

Fall River implemented Yondr pouches this school year to keep devices out of kids’ hands in classrooms.

One district in Rhode Island has chosen the same approach.

Central Falls School District began using Yondr pouches for middle and high school students in the 2023-2024 school year. It still uses them today.

Administrators have access to a Velcro version.

“This version is for an administrator who, in a crisis, may need to get to their phone quickly, but the student version actually has a strong magnet,” said Dr. Stephanie Downey Toledo, superintendent of the Central Falls School District.

The student’s Yonder pouch magnets are closed at arrival and opened by an administrator at dismissal.

“It has been a game changer for our learning and our engagement,” Toledo said.

The pouches cost less than $10 per student and were paid for by the Rhode Island Department of Education.

Abouyt 1,500 students have them.

“The kids are so much more attentive to the learning, having rich discourse with their peers, and really going to a deeper level of learning when this distraction is away,” said Toledo.

Central Falls has long struggled with student grades and absenteeism. With the Yondr pouches, Toledo said student engagement increased by 15%.

What happens in a crisis?

“We take that burden off of students no matter what,” said Toledo. “Whether they have a personal cellphone or not, we have invested in systems in the district to message every family multi-lingually and that alert can get out within one second of us hitting send.”

At the East Greenwich Public School District, there are no pouches. Instead, it has a phone-free policy.

“We’re always going to do everything we can to keep our kids safe. When it comes to safety, I’ve let our families know, you’ll hear from me when something is going on,” said Dr. Brian Ricca, the East Greenwich superintendent.

At Archie R. Cole Middle School, if a phone is seen, it’s taken.

New this year at East Greenwich High School, phones are no longer allowed in common areas like hallways and cafeterias.

Ricca said the policy has been successful.

“We’re trying not to make it punitive,” said Ricca. “We’re really trying to make it about a higher quality of teaching and learning and a higher quality of relationships and interactions.”

According to Common Sense Media, 97% of students use phones during school.

The National Education Association said 83% of teachers support an all-day phone-free policy.