Congressional Wake‑Up Call: Phone‑Free Schools Gain Bipartisan Praise
Richardson ISD leaders and educators testify on the power of going phone-free—with Yondr at the center of the solution.
Last week, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a landmark hearing on screentime in schools. The tone? Decidedly bipartisan. The message? Clear and urgent: Cell phones are disrupting learning—and local districts need scalable solutions that work.
Among those spotlighted was the Yondr Phone-Free Schools Program, featured as a model for restoring focus, safety, and instructional time in K–12 classrooms. Dr. Matthew Gibbins, Assistant Superintendent of Richardson Independent School District (TX), testified that teachers identified phone use as the #1 issue impacting instruction—more than any other challenge in the classroom. In turn, the district updated its policy and introduced Yondr to help reclaim learning time, reduce disruptions, and support student well-being. Gibbins then shared the results that followed:
“We saw firsthand how smartphones were disrupting learning and increasing challenges like cyberbullying, classroom distractions, and student conflict. In response, we revised our policy and introduced a practical tool—the Yondr pouch—to help reclaim instructional time, improve safety, and support student well-being through a phone-free learning environment.”
—Dr. Matthew Gibbins, Assistant Superintendent, Richardson ISD
What Happened After Richardson ISD Went Phone-Free with Yondr:
The results? Tangible, scalable, and widely felt across campuses. Richardson ISD serves approximately 37,000 students across 50 campuses in Dallas County, Texas. The district is racially and economically diverse—making these outcomes all the more compelling for school leaders nationwide. Here’s how it unfolded:
The program began as a pilot at one junior high school, where 98% of teachers reported fewer disciplinary issues and 100% observed more instructional time. Encouraged by the results, RISD expanded Yondr to four high schools—including one with nearly 3,000 students—and has since introduced it to junior high campuses as well.
Local Control, National Momentum
One of the consistent themes from the hearing? States—not Washington—should lead on phone policy. While there was no call for a federal mandate, multiple panelists emphasized the need for local leadership in creating focused, student-centered learning environments.
Notably, Dr. Jean Twenge—author of iGen—cited research on screen time and adolescent well-being, reinforcing the case for consistent, bell-to-bell phone-free policies. Dr. Matthew Gibbins echoed that sentiment:
“This is about creating safer, calmer, more student-centered schools. And others are taking notice.”
Since going phone-free, Richardson ISD has heard from dozens of districts across Texas and beyond—each eager to learn from their approach.
What Educators Are Saying
Federal recognition may be new—but for educators in Richardson ISD, the results have been clear for years. Across campuses, teachers have seen stronger student connections, calmer classrooms, and fewer behavioral issues. As Dr. Matthew Gibbins shared during his congressional testimony, one principal described the shift this way: since going phone-free, “we’ve gone from fights being filmed and shared on social media to students talking, reading, and laughing together during lunch.”
These are the kinds of changes that can’t be measured by policy alone—but by the culture they spark in everyday school life. Here’s what Richardson ISD leaders have said about the shift to phone-free schools:
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“The cafeteria is lively—students talk, play games, even read. The calm we now experience didn’t exist before. Our teachers are finally free to do what they love: teach.”
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“Yondr strengthened our classroom culture. I focus on students—not their phones.”
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“Cyberbullying is virtually gone. Students are more connected, and teachers report stronger classroom management year after year.”
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“Teachers overwhelmingly support the program. Students feel more present. Social media distractions are way down.”
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“Yondr removed the daily power struggle. Now, teachers can teach—and students can learn.”
The Yondr Program Difference
At Yondr, we believe phone-free learning environments aren’t just possible—they’re powerful. We’re proud to partner with states, schools, and districts like Richardson ISD to build structured, sustainable systems that improve focus, safety, and connection.
Schools in the Yondr Phone-Free Schools Program receive:
Policy development, stakeholder engagement, and training
Hardware, signage, and operational planning
Staff training, onboarding, and ongoing support
This congressional moment reinforces what we’ve seen for over a decade: Going phone-free works—and the results speak for themselves.
Want to dive deeper?
Read Dr. Matthew Gibbins' full written testimony to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education:
Download the official testimony (PDF)
Explore the full Richardson ISD case study with implementation insights and outcomes:
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