Agenda Item
b. Enhancing Student Engagement: Implementing Yondr Cellphone Pouches In Schools (Not to exceed $400,000) ~ Updated 7.7.2024
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Darnell T. Logan, Director, Student Relations, Division of Wrap Around Services
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the purchase of Yondr cellphone pouches to be implemented in 10 pilot schools for the 2024-25 school year (12,916 students plus 15% buffer for 14,853 students). This request is aligned to Strategic Goal Area 4, Culture and Climate for an amount not to exceed $400,000.
Why: In the age of digital distractions, managing cell phone usage in educational settings has become increasingly challenging. The rise of smartphone dependency among students can negatively impact their academic performance, social interactions, behavior, and mental health. To address these issues, DCSD would propose a pilot program to implement the Yondr cellphone pouch system in 10 schools (5 middle schools and 5 high schools) across the school district.
Details: Yondr cellphone pouches are innovative tools designed to create phone-free spaces, particularly in educational environments. These pouches securely lock cellphones away, allowing students to focus on their activities without the distractions and disruptions caused by mobile devices. The pouches are simple yet effective, using a secure locking mechanism that requires a designated unlocking base to access the phone again. This system has been successfully implemented in various schools across the country, showing positive results in reducing distractions, decreasing behavior concerns, improving academic performance, and fostering a better learning environment.
Financial impact: The total cost to implement the Yondr cellphone pouch program shall not exceed $400,000 and will be paid with funds from the Expendable Computer Equipment and Purchased Professional and Technical Services accounts.
Contact: Dr. Kishia Towns, Chief of Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around Services, 678-676-1918
Dr. Darnell T. Logan, Director, Student Relations, Division of Wrap Around Services, 678-676-1811
Status: Approved by General Counsel.
Pilot Schools
Cell Phone Usage Baseline Data
May 2024
Cell Phone Usage Baseline Data Collection Information
Schools • 8 Pilot Schools
Chapel Hill MS • Cell Phone Usage Data Tracking
Druid Hill MS Ø Text Messages
Ø Emails
Ø Gaming
Lithonia HS Ø Social Media
Lithonia MS Ø Calls
• 3,117 Total Combined Middle and High Schools Notifications
Tucker HS Ø 1,165 Middle Schools
Tucker MS Ø 1,952 High Schools
• 2 Classroom Observations Per School
Cross Keys HS Ø Core Academic Classes
Sequoyah MS
• 30-Minutes Per Class Data Collection Duration
• 257 Total Middle and High School Student Participants
Middle Schools
Cell Phone Usage Data
Total Number Total Number Total Number Total Number Total Number
School Name of Text of Email of Gaming of Social Media of Phone Call Total
Notifications Notifications Notifications Notifications Notifications
Chapel Hill Middle
6th Grade – Science
243 284 163 260 17 967
Chapel Hill Middle
7th Grade – Science
80 33 16 170 9 308
Druid Hills Middle
8th Grade – ELA
Talented & Gifted Class 17 6 8 11 0 42
Druid Hills Middle
8th Grade – Math
Talented & Gifted Class 26 7 11 16 4 64
Lithonia Middle
7th Grade – S.Studies
28 5 5 88 4 130
Lithonia Middle
8th Grade – S.Studies 64 10 4 57 5 140
Middle Schools
Cell Phone Usage Data
Total Number Total Number Total Number Total Number Total Number
of Text of Email of Gaming of Social Media of Phone Call
School Name Notifications Notifications Notifications Notifications Notifications Total
Sequoyah Middle
6th Grade – Math
109 31 19 98 13 270
Sequoyah Middle
6th Grade – Math
12 16 1 54 1 84
Tucker Middle
7th Grade – Math
99 22 43 108 18 290
Tucker Middle
7th Grade - ELA 117 1 8 19 0 145
High Schools
Cell Phone Usage Data
Total Number Total Number Total Number Total Number Total Number
of Text of Email of Gaming of Social Media of Phone Call
School Name Notifications Notifications Notifications Notifications Notifications Total
Cross Keys HS
9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Grades
American Government
134 21 11 246 11 423
Cross Keys HS
9th, 10th, 11th Grades
French II
35 9 6 40 0 90
Lithonia HS
9th Grade
Algebra
325 44 37 406 71 883
Lithonia HS
9th Grade
Ethnics Studies
119 34 9 122 11 295
High Schools
Cell Phone Usage Data
Total Number Total Number Total Number Total Number Total Number
of Text of Email of Gaming of Social Media of Phone Call
School Name Notifications Notifications Notifications Notifications Notifications Total
Tucker High School
9th & 10th Grade
Spanish 51 3 3 36 0 93
Tucker High School
10th, 11th, 12th Grade
Science 69 23 5 63 8 168