Kansas City Charter School Increases Learning Time by Locking Up Phones

Face-to-face conversations. Loud music. Gaming activities.

“A variety of distractions seemed to be ongoing” during lessons at DeLaSalle High School, according to Breona Ward, head of college and career advancements.

Cellphone usage among students hindered the learning process at the charter school in Kansas City.

Observing the transformation in her English class, Ward described the change as “dramatic” after implementing stricter regulations on cellphones midway through the 2022-23 academic year. With students’ devices securely stored, conflicts, disturbances, and social media-related issues decreased.

Ward noted a difference even in students’ free time, as they engaged in conversations and board games instead of gluing their eyes to screens.

“It’s truly marvelous,” Ward remarked. “You witness students who typically don’t interact, who aren’t in the same social circles, forging connections and genuinely communicating.”

Now, 18 months later with a more stringent cellphone policy in place, the Kansas City charter school is contemplating ways to relax the rules without backsliding.

Students are pushing for the allowance of cellphone usage in certain situations, like outside of class. Executive director Sean Stalling is inclined to support their proposals.

“While I may not endorse all of the changes that students suggest,” Stalling stated, “I firmly believe that having a policy collaboratively designed by students and the school…will be simpler to enforce and implement.”

How the policy operated

In early 2023, DeLaSalle initiated its stringent cellphone guidelines.

The school, which focuses on assisting students who lagged behind in credits or experienced challenges at other high schools, urgently aimed to maximize classroom time after disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Research has shown detrimental effects on academic performance, mental health, and physical activity due to cellphone use in schools.

Seventy-five percent of public schools nationwide prohibited non-academic cellphone use during the 2020-21 academic year, but the enforcement of these bans varied significantly. A 2023 survey of approximately 200 children aged 11 to 17 revealed that 97% used cellphones in school.

Instead of just issuing a ban on cellphones, DeLaSalle employed magnetically sealed pouches from Yondr, designed for use in schools, events, and workplaces. While students can carry these pouches, they can only be unlocked at designated stations.

However, there were considerations on how the system was intended to operate.

Principal Erin Wilmore mentioned that students quickly found loopholes in the pouches.

A simple online search yields tips on bypassing the locks with minimal evidence of tampering.

According to Wilmore, the school had to allocate resources to enforce the policy due to students’ efforts to evade it, rather than solely relying on Yondr.

During morning inspections, students undergo bag checks, and either Wilmore or a vice principal examines each Yondr pouch. Damaged pouches are discarded upon discovery.

In class, teachers alert administrators when they catch students using phones.

For violating the policy, students may have their phones confiscated during school hours, sometimes for extended periods. Nevertheless, the policy is not designed to be punitive.

“We aim to avoid suspensions and other disciplinary actions that could lead to students missing out on education,” Stalling emphasized.

Ward noted that while some students found ways to circumvent the policy by using tablets or Apple watches, which don’t fit into the Yondr pouches, these devices have generally caused fewer disruptions than phones. For instance, it’s easier to monitor tablet activities at a glance.

Response and Influence

Stalling observed that the policy enabled more teaching time.

During the 2023 state English assessments, DeLaSalle students outperformed their peers from neighboring high schools in Kansas City. The school records also indicated an improvement in math scores, though the final 2024 results are pending.

Stalling highlighted this achievement as significant, especially considering that many DeLaSalle students previously struggled in their former schools. The extent to which the cellphone policy contributed to these improvements remains unclear.

According to Stalling, teachers predominantly supported the implementation of the cellphone policy, except for one who already had an effective policy in place.

While teachers generally appreciated the policy for its clarity and the attempt to reclaim instructional time, they acknowledged that enforcing it, such as involving an administrator when a student is caught with a phone, could be a distraction in itself.

Approximately 95% of parents endorsed the policy, with some even assisting in its enforcement.

Stalling mentioned that some parents have contacted the school to report instances where their child used a phone against the rules, like calling from the restroom.

Ward noted that certain exceptions were made for special circumstances, such as students needing phones for medical monitoring, expecting crucial calls, or dealing with family crises.

Students participating in off-campus activities like internships or college courses are generally permitted to carry their phones for safety purposes, Ward added.

She expressed concerns regarding the risks posed by phones, citing how social media conflicts could escalate into real-life issues within the school environment. Behavioral incidents notably declined due to decreased phone access, she remarked.

Restrictions on phones also prevented the documentation and viral spread of real-life disputes or teasing, minimizing school-wide incidents, according to Stalling.

Overall, students have not been as receptive to the policy.

Stalling mentioned ongoing discussions between administrators and students regarding potential modifications. While phones will remain prohibited in class, the use of Yondr pouches may be discontinued unless rules are broken.

“Educational time will remain a top priority,” Stalling assured. However, “students have lunch breaks, transition periods, and extracurricular programs. There are instances where students desire access to their phones.”

Wilmore acknowledged the value of considering adjustments to the policy. Nonetheless, she acknowledged the positive impact of the strict cellphone restriction in place.

She mentioned that students now comprehend “our commitment to maintaining a conducive learning environment free from phone disruptions. It showcased the importance clearly. Now, it’s up to them to decide if we revise the policy.”

This article was originally published on Beacon: Kansas City and has been republished here under a Creative Commons license.