TPS students will be required to store phones in locked pouches or secure boxes during school hours under new policy driven by state law.
TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo Public Schools students will be required to store their cell phones in secure pouches or lockboxes during school hours beginning in August, as part of a new district-wide policy released on the TPS Facebook page Friday.
The change comes in response to Ohio House Bill 250, which mandates that all public school districts adopt formal rules regarding student cell phone use during instructional time. Gov. Mike DeWine supported the bill, citing concerns about how phones disrupt learning and affect student focus.
- Students at TPS comprehensive high schools and magnet schools will use Yondr pouches. Phones will be locked in the pouches upon arrival and unlocked when students leave for the day.
- Students in kindergarten through eighth grade will place their devices in secure lockboxes at the start of the day and retrieve them at dismissal.
District officials said the policy aims to foster a more focused and engaging learning environment and that additional details about implementation and expectations will be shared in the coming weeks.
“We understand that this is a significant change, but we are confident it will help create a more focused and engaging learning environment for all students,” the district said in a statement.
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