Back-to-school season looks different this year as districts are implementing new programs to ban smartphones, using lockable pouches from a company called Yondr. In Richardson High School in Texas, students are required to lock their phones in pouches from the first bell of the day to the last, leading to a noticeable improvement in student engagement and behavior in classrooms.
Yondr, a startup based in San Francisco, provides patented lockable magnetic pouches that cost $30 each. The company was founded a decade ago by CEO Graham Dugoni and has seen rapid growth as the conversation around the potential harms of smartphones, particularly to children’s mental health, gains prominence. Statewide laws have been implemented in Florida, Louisiana, Indiana, and more states are expected to follow suit.
Yondr has secured lucrative contracts with various school districts across the United States, ranging from almost $400,000 with the DeKalb County School District in Georgia to $36,000 for Bethlehem Central High School in New York. The company is profitable and has customers in over two dozen countries and all 50 states, with the education sector becoming its main focus in recent years.
Yondr’s pouches are being used in over a third of all New York City public secondary schools, with plans to expand to more schools, including elementary ones. The company has seen a significant increase in demand for its products in schools since the pandemic, as students and parents have become more receptive to the idea of limiting smartphone use in educational settings.
Despite challenges such as student resistance and concerns about emergency situations, schools that have implemented Yondr’s pouches have reported positive impacts on student behavior and academic performance. Yondr’s approach includes providing schools with a wider instructional program to assist in creating policies and procedures, as well as ongoing support to ensure a successful transition.
Efforts are also being made by organizations like the Phone-Free Schools Movement and Fairplay to provide resources and guidance to schools looking to implement phone-free policies. Advocates believe that limiting smartphone use in schools can lead to improvements in student focus, engagement, and overall well-being, despite concerns from some parents about safety and communication during emergencies. As more schools adopt phone-free policies, the conversation around the role of smartphones in education continues to evolve.
