Times are a-changing at Newark High School. For the last several years, students have been allowed to use their cell phones during free time or lunch breaks. However, this slowly became a huge issue for teachers and students alike as a large number of students became addicted to their phones, unable to put them away during class time, causing disruption to the education of both them and their peers. Because of these problems, along with a law enacted by the Delaware State Legislature, the administration decided it was time for a change.
In early 2026, the legislature of the state of Delaware passed a bill requiring schools to have a policy that limits student cell phone use during instructional time, Senate Bill 106. Newark had already implemented a rule along the lines of not allowing phones to be used during class time, but it clearly wasn’t working, nor was it properly implemented. This is why Newark thought that they needed to go further than just saying “no phones in class,” so they turned, like many other schools across the country, to Yondr.
What is Yondr? Yondr pouches are stiff, magnetically sealed bags made to hold cell phones, along with other small electronic devices. Prior to the passing of SB 106, middle and high schools all over the country were using Yondr pouches to keep students from using their phones, primarily starting this school year, 2025-2026. So, what better way to keep students off their phones than to make their phones inaccessible during the day? Newark High School decided that Yondr pouches would be the best way to get students to stop using their phones, and they received a state grant totaling almost $39,000 that allowed them to purchase their Yondr system. And starting February 2, 2026, Newark High School would have all students’ phones in a Yondr pouch during the school day.
Despite the supposed positives of implementing the Yondr pouches, there was a large amount of pushback from both students and parents on the suggested policy. Many argued that they would have no way to communicate with their parents, or even siblings, if their phones were locked up all day. A lot of people also raised safety concerns or emergency contact issues, making the Yondr policy very unpopular with the school’s community. With the amount of pushback, the school realized that its policy might have been a bit too harsh and unfair for the students who are not causing trouble. So, they decided to lessen the Yondr policy, making it so a student’s phone would only be placed in a pouch if they were to be seen using it during school hours, making the pouch just a punishment for those doing the wrong thing. However, some people were still unhappy as students would no longer be allowed to use their phones during their free periods or lunch break, but you can’t win them all.
The Yellowjackets of Newark High School are now completely phone-free during school hours, and if you’re not, you get Yondr’d. Although many students still aren’t happy with the policy, there has been a significant decrease in phone usage during classes, making everyone’s learning experience better.
