Emerald Academy Implements Phone-Free Policy to Enhance Student Focus and Engagement

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Students Going Phone-Free at Emerald Academy

This school year, Emerald Academy has taken a big step toward creating a focused learning environment by introducing personally assigned phone pouches for students in grades 6 through 8. The school is proud to announce that it’s the very first in East Tennessee to implement the Yondr Phone-Free Space system, a program designed to minimize distractions caused by cell phone usage during school hours.

How the Yondr System Works

So, how does it work? When students arrive at school, they need to place their phones in a specially designed Yondr pouch. While they keep their phones with them during the day, they can’t actually use them until the school day is over. The pouches lock whenever students are in a designated phone-free area, and the only way to unlock them is through an unlocking base or by stepping outside of the phone-free zone.

The change was put into action right after school started, with the official roll-out happening on July 29. Staff and students have been adapting to this new system, and the school believes it’s a vital tool in fostering a better learning environment. According to the school’s Director, Carlissa Weeks, the goal is clear: “Electronic devices, especially cell phones with easy access to social media, can be a major distraction in schools. Our values are all about high expectations, excellence, respect, teamwork, and commitment; implementing the Yondr program helps us push forward with these values and fulfill our mission of preparing urban scholars for their futures.”

A Step Towards Fewer Distractions

This new move aligns with a national conversation about limiting cell phone use in schools. In fact, Emerald Academy is one of over 2,000 schools around the globe that have adopted the Yondr system, with promising results. A survey conducted among 1,200 partner schools showed that many have decreased distractions and increased engagement in the classroom after implementing the program.

For younger students in Kindergarten through 5th grade, Emerald Academy has a slightly different approach. They are required to keep all electronic devices turned off and stored away in their backpacks throughout the school day. This helps create a distraction-free environment for even the youngest students.

Legislative Considerations on Cell Phone Use in Schools

The timing of this new initiative is interesting, particularly as a bill aiming to officially ban cell phone use in Tennessee schools is being reintroduced in the state legislature. If passed, school districts will have the discretion to decide how to implement such a ban, potentially leading to changes in policies at various schools across the state.

Earlier this year, similar discussions occurred in Hamblen County, where a strict phone ban was put into place. Under their new regulations, parents are required to pay a fee to retrieve their child’s phone after it is confiscated for unauthorized use. Early reports indicated that schools managed to enforce the new policy with minimal violations, leading to an overall positive response from both parents and school officials.

Aiming for Effective Learning Environments

As the school year continues, Emerald Academy is taking bold steps to enhance the learning experience for its students. With the introduction of the Yondr pouches, they are setting a precedent that other schools might soon follow. Families and educators alike are hopeful that these changes will lead to a more focused and productive learning environment.

It’ll be exciting to watch how this experiment unfolds and what benefits it might bring in the long run. As more schools consider their own policies around cell phone use, Emerald Academy is clearly leading the way in creating spaces where students can thrive, free from distractions.