CPS will be partnering with Yondr to make our school a phone-free space. Use of cellphones, smart watches, and smart accessories will not be permitted during school hours.
We understand that cell phones have great utility, but cell phone use has increasingly become a source of distraction, antisocial behavior, and conflict both at home and at school.
CPS believes in maintaining a safe and effective educational environment for all of its students. Research shows that the mere presence of cellphones in the classroom can be detrimental to student performance. According to a survey and report from Common Sense Media that involved 1,240 interviews with parents and their 12 to 18-year-old children, 50% of teens feel attached to their mobile devices, and 59% of their parents agree that their kids have a problem putting their devices down (U.S. News & World Report).
Yondr is currently used across the world in hundreds of classrooms and schools, at concerts, comedy shows, weddings and special events of all kinds. The goal of these spaces is to encourage people to engage with each other and their surroundings.
The Yondr program employs a simple, easy-to-use case that stores a cell phone and requires an unlocking base to open. When students arrive at school, they will place their phone in a Yondr case which is then locked. Students maintain possession of their phones but will not be able to use them until they are unlocked at the end of the school day.
We believe this will allow our students to be:
- Engaged in classroom activities and assignments
- Less dependent on electronics to do classwork
- Less likely to engage in conversations around bullying
- Less likely to be distracted and procrastinate on assignments in class
