RISD amplify program to reduce cell phone distractions

Richardson, Texas - The Richardson Independent School District in North Texas is set to expand a program aimed at curtailing classroom distractions linked to cell phone usage. This decision comes in anticipation of the upcoming school term.

The rising concerns associated with students' cell phone usage and its impact on their concentration have led the district to implement a specific policy in four additional schools. Henceforth, students of Lake Highlands High School, Lake Highlands Junior High, Apollo Junior High, Liberty Junior High, and Forest Meadow Junior High—the latter having trialed the program last year—will be under this policy.

The district's approach involves students placing their mobile phones in specially designed Yondr pouches when in designated phone-free areas like classrooms. These pouches, which securely house the phones, can only be unlocked when the student is outside the restricted zone using a specific unlocking base.

The pilot phase of the Yondr program at Forest Meadow Junior High School during the prior academic year witnessed positive outcomes. An official statement released earlier this summer indicated a "dramatic decrease in cellphone-related discipline" within the school. Further supporting the program's success, a survey of Forest Meadow educators showed unanimous approval, with all participants agreeing that "academic time increased in classrooms" post-implementation. District data revealed a significant decline in cellphone infractions, with numbers dropping from an average of 49 violations per day across secondary campuses to just eight at Forest Meadow.

Superintendent Tabitha Branum emphasized that the push to extend the program primarily came from the educational institutions themselves, highlighting the broader academic community's commitment to leveraging innovative methods to augment student focus. As Branum expressed during a June school board meeting, “This is really coming from our campuses. This is a request from our campuses.”

Credit: Richardson Independent School District, Dallas Metro News