EDUCATION
2023 EDUCATION EDITION
Richardson ISD to expand locked cellphone program for 2023 24
WHO SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM
program gave teachers back 10-15 minutes of class time daily. Also of note Despite the positive impact on learning, the Yondr program has raised concerns among parents about safety during emergencies. Addressing those concerns, RISD Assistant Superintendent Sandra Hayes said students are always discouraged from using cellphones— regardless of the Yondr program— during an emergency so they can follow emergency protocols. Branum added students all have access to email through their dis- trict-provided laptops, and parents can call the district’s front o ce team. Going forward Branum said she hopes the imple- mentation of a strict cellphone-free environment becomes part of each school’s culture. Branum said she doesn’t plan to use the Yondr program districtwide. “Our job is to support the needs of the campus, but it doesn’t always ... look the exact same,” Branum said.
In a May district survey, all participating teachers at Forest Meadow Junior High School supported the cellphone-free policy and the use of Yondr, parents and students had varied responses.
BY CECILIA LENZEN
The schools joining the program in the upcoming school year were selected based on their principals’ requests, Branum said. How it works Students at participating campuses are required to put their cellphones in Yondr pouches, which remain with them throughout the school day. To use their phone, students would have to get permission from a teacher or administrator, who could unlock the pouch for them. Diving in deeper In 2022-23, district o cials planned to roll out the program at all cam- puses. When parents seemed hesitant about the program, o cials selected Forest Meadow Junior High School to pilot the program. The results were “overwhelmingly positive,” Branum said, adding the
Richardson ISD o cials plan to expand a program to lock up students’ cellphones during the day. The pilot program, which was tested at Forest Meadow Junior High School during the 2022-23 school year, uses Yondr, a company that creates locked pouches for cellphones. During the 2023-24 school year, the program will expand to Lake Highlands High, Lake Highlands Junior High, Apollo Junior High and Liberty Junior High schools. How it happened In July, RISD Superintendent Tabitha Branum said the initiative came from feedback from parents, teachers and students about how much time students spend on the phone. The rst step was strengthening the district’s existing cellphone-free pol- icy. The locked cellphone program was meant to be an enforcement “tool.”
Support the cellphone-free environment policy
Agree
Disagree
Non-Yondr parents
Non-Yondr students
80%
67%
Support the implementation of the Yondr program
Agree
Disagree
Yondr parents
Yondr students
87%
68%
SOURCE: RICHARDSON ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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RICHARDSON EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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