Wellesley Middle School has implemented a cellphone ban to reduce distractions and improve focus among students in the classroom.The school uses lockable pouches that students put their phones in at the beginning of the day.”This is a handheld pouch, and all we do is open it that way. Once it’s in the pouch, there is no way for them to get into the pouch, so it has really worked,” Principal Dr. Mark Ito said. To unlock the pouches, students tap them on designated stations in the school hallways. Ito acknowledged that students were initially resistant to the change. “I can’t say they loved it. In fact, if they’re very honest with you, they’ll tell you that they don’t like it, but I think what we’ve really found is they understand why,” Ito said. Citing concerns such as anxiety, shorter attention spans, and bullying, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced a $500,000 grant to help schools implement similar cell phone bans.”Students and teachers deserve environments where the focus is on learning and building relationships — not constant notifications and distractions,” said Campbell. “This grant will help schools implement thoughtful bell-to-bell policies that support student mental health and create stronger, more connected learning environments.”The grant can be used for lockable phone storage and technology, training for school staff, community engagement and education efforts, and data collection to assess the impact of the bans. “Too many classrooms are competing with devices that were never designed for learning, and frankly, teachers shouldn’t have to play cop in the classroom,” Campbell said.In Wellesley, some parents have expressed support for the initiative. “They will listen to the teachers; they are more focused on the things that they are doing. They have their laptop anyway, they have their iPads,” one parent said. Ito said the ban has led to significant improvements in the school environment. “Students are interacting, teachers feel like their students are more focused in class. I think overall we have seen a notable shift in the way that this school runs, and it’s for the better,” he said.

WELLESLEY, Mass. —

Wellesley Middle School has implemented a cellphone ban to reduce distractions and improve focus among students in the classroom.

The school uses lockable pouches that students put their phones in at the beginning of the day.

“This is a handheld pouch, and all we do is open it that way. Once it’s in the pouch, there is no way for them to get into the pouch, so it has really worked,” Principal Dr. Mark Ito said.

To unlock the pouches, students tap them on designated stations in the school hallways.

Ito acknowledged that students were initially resistant to the change.

“I can’t say they loved it. In fact, if they’re very honest with you, they’ll tell you that they don’t like it, but I think what we’ve really found is they understand why,” Ito said.

Citing concerns such as anxiety, shorter attention spans, and bullying, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced a $500,000 grant to help schools implement similar cell phone bans.

“Students and teachers deserve environments where the focus is on learning and building relationships — not constant notifications and distractions,” said Campbell. “This grant will help schools implement thoughtful bell-to-bell policies that support student mental health and create stronger, more connected learning environments.”

The grant can be used for lockable phone storage and technology, training for school staff, community engagement and education efforts, and data collection to assess the impact of the bans.

“Too many classrooms are competing with devices that were never designed for learning, and frankly, teachers shouldn’t have to play cop in the classroom,” Campbell said.

In Wellesley, some parents have expressed support for the initiative.

“They will listen to the teachers; they are more focused on the things that they are doing. They have their laptop anyway, they have their iPads,” one parent said.

Ito said the ban has led to significant improvements in the school environment.

“Students are interacting, teachers feel like their students are more focused in class. I think overall we have seen a notable shift in the way that this school runs, and it’s for the better,” he said.