As Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) welcomes back its 35,000 students today, a significant change is set to resonate through the halls of its high schools. In a measure to reduce distractions and improve educational outcomes, high school principals will instruct students to keep their cell phones locked away during the school day within special magnetically sealed Yondr pouches. WLWT reports that this move is intended to draw students' focus away from their screens and back into the classroom environment.

While some parents, like Ashley Blair, express relief at the initiative, noting that "kids now these days are so focused on those phones," the new directive represents a graduated shift towards a pre-digital era of classroom engagement. Blair, speaking to WLWT, recalled frequent reminders to her own children to "put down their phone; to be in the moment, pay attention." Similarly, Interim Superintendent Shauna Murphy elaborated on the process stating, "Students will arrive at school every day. They will receive their Yondr pouches. They will lock their cell phone in the Yondr pouch," Murphy said. "They'll keep the phone in the pouch with them throughout the day. And at the end of the day, they will unlock the pouch and receive their cell phone to take home with them," according to a WLWT interview.

In addition to the cell phone initiative, other noteworthy alterations to the student experience involve changes in transportation for 7th and 8th graders who will now ride Metro buses to class instead of the traditional yellow school buses. FOX19 emphasizes safety tips for those using the public transport service, such as being aware of the surroundings and not chasing after the bus if it's already departing. The changes come alongside reminders that "unlike yellow school buses, motorists do not have to stop for a public transportation vehicle," thus prioritizing child safety.

This collective tightening of policies around student behavior and safety comes after Governor Mike DeWine signed a bill in May recommending that school districts consider banning cell phones during the school day. Although only imposing a mandate for schools to have a cell phone policy in place, Lebanon City Schools Superintendent Isaac Seevers took the advice to heart after a successful trial run, leading to a ban in the Greater Cincinnati school district. The inconsistency in cell phone policies across Ohio schools, as highlighted by Local12, varies from district to district, leaving many to navigate a web of rules that often differ from one classroom to another.