Cell phone policies in middle and high schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any school that leaves the enforcement of phone policy up to teachers in the classroom is the admin copping out. Teachers have other stuff to do.

Schools have to collect in the morning and return in the afternoon, or the policy won't be effective.

It depends on the school. Walls phone policy went relatively smoothly this week. Collecting phones in the morning and returning them can be a logistical nightmare and a school needs space to store these phones all day.

[Anonymous]

My school spent 30k on replacing lost or stolen phones last year. Because of this, they are no longer collecting phones from students upon entry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My school spent 30k on replacing lost or stolen phones last year. Because of this, they are no longer collecting phones from students upon entry.

Which school?

[Anonymous]

Did these schools all start these phone policies this school year or were they also in effect last school year?

[Anonymous]

Honestly, schools need cell phone lockers more than metal detectors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My oldest is a couple years from this being relevant, but how does the pouch system work at Deal?

Each kid gets a Yondr pouch for their cell phone/smartwatch. It's locked when they enter the school and unlocked when they leave.

My dd is a new 6th grader at Deal. She got her Yondr pouch the first day and mastered it nearly immediately. Or at least that’s how we interpret the communications.

“Did you get the pouch?”
“Yup.”
“How did it go?”
“Fine.”
“Any trouble?”
“Nope.”
“Ok, great.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My oldest is a couple years from this being relevant, but how does the pouch system work at Deal?

Each kid gets a Yondr pouch for their cell phone/smartwatch. It's locked when they enter the school and unlocked when they leave.

Or you can apparently leave your phone in some bin by the metal detector, instead, which our kid sometimes insists on doing even though it seems to us like a good way for someone else to take their phone (which, in fairness to our kid, has not yet happened).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My oldest is a couple years from this being relevant, but how does the pouch system work at Deal?

Each kid gets a Yondr pouch for their cell phone/smartwatch. It's locked when they enter the school and unlocked when they leave.

Or you can apparently leave your phone in some bin by the metal detector, instead, which our kid sometimes insists on doing even though it seems to us like a good way for someone else to take their phone (which, in fairness to our kid, has not yet happened).

The State board of Education had a meeting yesterday and this topic was on the agenda (I think for the first time). DC is complicated, and the Board of Education doesn't really have any power, but they are forming a committee to talk about it and we'll invite public testimony. I think it will help bring more attention to the topic.
One thing that has been brought up but I have not seen in these forums is https://getbrick.app/

Anybody heard of schools using this and if it works? I think in theory the school could decide which apps would still be allowed like calculator or phone or certain education apps, but then everything else would be blocked after you swiped past this thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My oldest is a couple years from this being relevant, but how does the pouch system work at Deal?

Each kid gets a Yondr pouch for their cell phone/smartwatch. It's locked when they enter the school and unlocked when they leave.

Or you can apparently leave your phone in some bin by the metal detector, instead, which our kid sometimes insists on doing even though it seems to us like a good way for someone else to take their phone (which, in fairness to our kid, has not yet happened).

The State board of Education had a meeting yesterday and this topic was on the agenda (I think for the first time). DC is complicated, and the Board of Education doesn't really have any power, but they are forming a committee to talk about it and we'll invite public testimony. I think it will help bring more attention to the topic.
One thing that has been brought up but I have not seen in these forums is https://getbrick.app/

Anybody heard of schools using this and if it works? I think in theory the school could decide which apps would still be allowed like calculator or phone or certain education apps, but then everything else would be blocked after you swiped past this thing.

I guess I don't understand why it's needed if students also receive school-issued computers which should allow access to all the apps etc they need

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My oldest is a couple years from this being relevant, but how does the pouch system work at Deal?

Each kid gets a Yondr pouch for their cell phone/smartwatch. It's locked when they enter the school and unlocked when they leave.

Or you can apparently leave your phone in some bin by the metal detector, instead, which our kid sometimes insists on doing even though it seems to us like a good way for someone else to take their phone (which, in fairness to our kid, has not yet happened).

The State board of Education had a meeting yesterday and this topic was on the agenda (I think for the first time). DC is complicated, and the Board of Education doesn't really have any power, but they are forming a committee to talk about it and we'll invite public testimony. I think it will help bring more attention to the topic.
One thing that has been brought up but I have not seen in these forums is https://getbrick.app/

Anybody heard of schools using this and if it works? I think in theory the school could decide which apps would still be allowed like calculator or phone or certain education apps, but then everything else would be blocked after you swiped past this thing.

I guess I don't understand why it's needed if students also receive school-issued computers which should allow access to all the apps etc they need

Does anybody know how Deal (or other schools who use it) pay for the Yondr pouches? Especially for larger schools, setting up processes, staffing, and timing to lock up and retrive every device could get to be a big burden. But I imagine not all schools would have the funds to purchase these pouches?
The NYT daily podcast was on this topic on Tuesday https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/podcasts/the-daily/phone-ban-school.html
Other schools just say they need to be in lockers all day, and if they catch you with it, there are various levels of consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My oldest is a couple years from this being relevant, but how does the pouch system work at Deal?

Each kid gets a Yondr pouch for their cell phone/smartwatch. It's locked when they enter the school and unlocked when they leave.

Or you can apparently leave your phone in some bin by the metal detector, instead, which our kid sometimes insists on doing even though it seems to us like a good way for someone else to take their phone (which, in fairness to our kid, has not yet happened).

The State board of Education had a meeting yesterday and this topic was on the agenda (I think for the first time). DC is complicated, and the Board of Education doesn't really have any power, but they are forming a committee to talk about it and we'll invite public testimony. I think it will help bring more attention to the topic.
One thing that has been brought up but I have not seen in these forums is https://getbrick.app/

Anybody heard of schools using this and if it works? I think in theory the school could decide which apps would still be allowed like calculator or phone or certain education apps, but then everything else would be blocked after you swiped past this thing.

I guess I don't understand why it's needed if students also receive school-issued computers which should allow access to all the apps etc they need

Does anybody know how Deal (or other schools who use it) pay for the Yondr pouches? Especially for larger schools, setting up processes, staffing, and timing to lock up and retrive every device could get to be a big burden. But I imagine not all schools would have the funds to purchase these pouches?
The NYT daily podcast was on this topic on Tuesday https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/podcasts/the-daily/phone-ban-school.html
Other schools just say they need to be in lockers all day, and if they catch you with it, there are various levels of consequences.

Not sure how Deal pays for it, but it does not appear to be logistically difficult. They have several machines, and my kid reports that it's generally quick and easy.

[Anonymous]

It's on Today today. Go Hardy!

https://www.today.com/hoda-and-jenna
"Phone-free school in DC shows positive effects, more engagement"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Banneker has the best policy of any public in DC.

Yes they do. But Banneker does not have the same level of complaining and pushback from parents as some of the other schools.

That’s because it an old policy. They had the cell phone lockers at the old building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My oldest is a couple years from this being relevant, but how does the pouch system work at Deal?

Each kid gets a Yondr pouch for their cell phone/smartwatch. It's locked when they enter the school and unlocked when they leave.

Or you can apparently leave your phone in some bin by the metal detector, instead, which our kid sometimes insists on doing even though it seems to us like a good way for someone else to take their phone (which, in fairness to our kid, has not yet happened).

The State board of Education had a meeting yesterday and this topic was on the agenda (I think for the first time). DC is complicated, and the Board of Education doesn't really have any power, but they are forming a committee to talk about it and we'll invite public testimony. I think it will help bring more attention to the topic.
One thing that has been brought up but I have not seen in these forums is https://getbrick.app/

Anybody heard of schools using this and if it works? I think in theory the school could decide which apps would still be allowed like calculator or phone or certain education apps, but then everything else would be blocked after you swiped past this thing.

I guess I don't understand why it's needed if students also receive school-issued computers which should allow access to all the apps etc they need

Does anybody know how Deal (or other schools who use it) pay for the Yondr pouches? Especially for larger schools, setting up processes, staffing, and timing to lock up and retrive every device could get to be a big burden. But I imagine not all schools would have the funds to purchase these pouches?
The NYT daily podcast was on this topic on Tuesday https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/podcasts/the-daily/phone-ban-school.html
Other schools just say they need to be in lockers all day, and if they catch you with it, there are various levels of consequences.

Likely PTO funded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's on Today today. Go Hardy!

https://www.today.com/hoda-and-jenna
"Phone-free school in DC shows positive effects, more engagement"

That's awesome. Super cool to see national media covering Hardy. This speaks to great leadership at the school.