New Haven Schools To Go Cell Phone-Free Beginning 2025: Mayor, Supt.

NEW HAVEN, CT — Mayor Justin Elicker and Superintendent Madeline Negrón announced New Haven Public Schools will roll out a new district-wide policy on the use of cell phones by students in schools, making all elementary and middle schools' cell phone-free for students beginning this school year in January 2025 and the goal of making all high schools cell phone-free for students at the start of next school year in September 2025.

In a statement from the officials in advance of a Wednesday news briefing, they wrote, "It has been well documented that the use of smartphones by students is causing serious learning disruptions and distractions in schools, resulting in negative impacts on students’ education, social interactions, mental health, and overall well-being."

Officials said both the U.S. Surgeon General's recent advisory and subsequent guidance from the Connecticut State Board of Education on the impact of social media and cell phones on youth informed the policy decision on the use of cell phones and other personal technology devices during the school day.

Under the new policy, students will be required to secure their cell phones in locked pouches, aka Yondr pouches, when they get to school and won't be allowed to access them until the school days-end, "barring certain preapproved and discreet usages."

Elicker is proposing to allocate $375,000 in city funds to provide Yondr pouches to all schools so that cell phones can be properly stored and locked up during the school day.

"The school district will also provide interested students, parents, and other stakeholders with opportunities to learn about, discuss, and provide input on the new cell phone free schools policy in advance of its implementation," officials said.

At the Wednesday briefing, Elicker and Negrón were joined by New Haven Federation of Teachers President Leslie Blatteau, Barnard Environmental Science & Technology School Principal Stephanie Skiba and students from Barnard, which has piloted a cellphone-free school policy and the use of Yondr pouches at their school over the last school year.