Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, Hope High School will pilot a phone-free/device-free environment. Clinton Primary, Beryl Henry, HAPS, and Yerger Middle Schools are already phone-free environments. These programs are part of a research study being conducted through the Arkansas Office of Educational Policy under the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. The study with examine the benefits of limiting access to cell phones during school.

Parents and Students, Instructional leaders of the Hope Public Schools have identified a critical barrier to instruction and learning at Hope High School. We would appreciate your help in understanding and following our cell phone guidelines established for the 2024-2025 school year. Hope High School recognizes the 21st Century student's use of and need for digital devices in everyday life. It is not the role of this school to deter that usage but create a learning environment with decreased distractions to increase student learning. In short, Hope High School is a phone-free school.

From the beginning of the school day until the end, students will be required to secure their cell phones and/or other electronic devices (such as headphones, airpods, smart watches, fitbits, etc.) in their backpacks, pockets, or Yondr pouches. This initiative is designed to minimize distractions and encourage a more focused and engaged learning atmosphere.

At the middle schools, every student secures their phone and/or other electronic devices into a personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school each morning. The pouches remain in the student's possession but students will not use them until they are unlocked at the end of the school day. Students are required to bring their Yondr pouch to and from school each day and are responsible for their pouches at all times.

At High School, the following rules must be adhered to during the school day: Students attending Hope High School will not be allowed to use personal cell phones, smartphone watches, earbuds, fitbits and/or any non district issued digital devices from the time they arrive on campus through 3:20 p.m. daily on the campus. Any and all students who take on the responsibility of possessing their cell phones, smartphone watches, earbuds, fitbits and/or any non-district issued digital devices on campus, must keep that device concealed and not visible on the campus.

We understand that cell phones have great utility, but cell phone use has increasingly become a source of distraction, antisocial behavior, and conflict both at home and at school. Research shows that the mere presence of cell phones in the classroom can be detrimental to student performance. According to a survey and report from Common Sense Media, 50% of teens feel attached to their mobile devices, and 59% of their parents agree that their kids have a problem putting their devices down (U.S. News & World Report).

Studies have shown that limiting cell phone usage in schools can lead to improved academic performance and enhanced student engagement. According to a study by the London School of Economics, schools that implemented a phone ban saw a 6.4% increase in test scores. Additionally, the presence of phones has been linked to increased anxiety and decreased attention spans among students. By reducing these distractions, we aim to create a more conducive learning environment.

In 2019, Yondr surveyed over 400 school partners to measure the effects of creating phone-free educational environments. These schools achieved notable progress in multiple areas:

• 69% of schools saw an improvement in academic performance

• 84% of schools saw an increase in student engagement in the classroom

• 80% of schools saw a decrease in behavior referrals