Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia (FCPS) is making a change for the upcoming school year. They are launching a pilot program in seven middle schools to prevent students from using cellphones during the school day. The schools involved in this program are Frost Middle School, Irving Middle School, Jackson Middle School, Poe Middle School, Robinson Middle School, Thoreau Middle School, and Twain Middle School.
The purpose of this program is to reduce disruptions in the classroom, enhance student engagement, and improve learning outcomes. FCPS believes that limiting cellphone use during school hours will create a more focused and productive learning environment for students. Research has shown that students who use their phones during instructional time tend to perform poorly academically.
Students participating in this program will receive a Yondr pouch during the first week of school. This pouch is magnetic and prevents students from accessing their phones, including social media, text messages, and phone calls. Students will be responsible for bringing their pouch to school every day and securely locking their phones inside it upon arrival.
Airpods must also be stored in the pouch or placed in students’ backpacks, while smartwatches should be turned off or put on airplane mode. In case of a family emergency, parents can contact the school’s front office. The new cellphone policy will be in effect from the beginning of the school day until the end, with students only being able to access their phones after the final bell rings.
If a student forgets their pouch, they will have to store their phone in the front office for the day and pay an $18 replacement fee if the pouch is lost or damaged. This initiative comes after Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order requiring public school divisions to establish cellphone-free education policies. The aim is to address concerns about the negative impact of excessive cellphone use on students’ mental health and overall well-being.
Similar policies have been implemented in other states like California, New York, Texas, and Georgia, with many schools opting for the use of Yondr pouches to limit cellphone usage during school hours. The goal is to provide students with a distraction-free learning environment that promotes academic success and personal development.