HOPE, Arkansas (KSLA) – On the first day of school in Hope, Arkansas, students were greeted with new policies regarding cell phone use on campus.

“We have a new policy for grades K-12 that no cell phones are allowed on campus during school hours as a way to prioritize the education and mental health of our students,” said Jonathan Crossley, Superintendent of Hope Public Schools.

Several school districts in Arkansas are using the Yondr system, which uses a secure bag to store phones and other small electronic devices, Crossley said. The student puts their phone in a secure bag and locks it. At the end of the school day, the student’s phone is removed from the secure bag.

School starts next week in Texarkana, Arkansas. And on Monday (August 12), school leaders in Hope made plans to roll out this cell phone ban initiative to Arkansas’ middle and high schools as well.

“I don’t want people to think that cell phones in a pocket are the cure-all for all of our problems,” said Lloyd Jackson, superintendent of the Texarkana Arkansas School District. “It’s just another tool that helps us support their academic performance through behavioral improvements and improving their attendance.”

This cell phone-free program is funded by a grant from the state of Arkansas. School leaders say the idea has been met with mixed feelings, but educators say they’re excited about the opportunity.

“Kids are so good. They don’t need to see their phone. They can text and all that stuff. So hopefully that will decrease,” said Jonathan Turner, dean of Yeager Middle School.

According to officials, reports from other schools using this practice have shown improvements in student engagement, behavior and achievement.

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