The introduction of a cell phone pouch to create a phone-free environment is not a punitive measure. The intention of the cell phone pouch is three-fold:

• to create classroom environments where teachers can teach, and students can learn free from distractions caused by the personal use of devices;
• to reduce the negative impact for ALL students of inappropriate use of devices at school, such as cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and incidents involving mobile phones that detract from a healthy school climate; and
• to increase meaningful face-to-face connections between students.

For the 2024-2025 school year, all students in grades 6-12 will be assigned a cell phone pouch to secure their phone, smartwatch and/or Airpods/ear buds. The pouch is the property of the school and is considered on loan to the student during the school year. Students are responsible for the pouch at all times and for bringing the pouch to and from school each day and keeping them in good condition.

Upon entering school, students will turn their phone off, place the phone inside their cell phone pouch, and lock it in front of the designated staff. The pouches will be unlocked at the end of the school day at several designated locations within the building.

Students who attend classes at the Killeen Career Center (KCC) will be expected to follow the same procedures as the other high schools. However, students travelling between their home campus to either the KCC or CTC may unlock their pouches prior to leaving campus and will lock them in their pouch upon returning to their home campus.

If a student needs to leave school early for an approved early dismissal, medical emergency, work assignment, athletic event, or other school-sponsored trip, students will be able to unlock their devices at school just prior to their departure. If returning to school during the instructional day, their pouch would be locked upon re-entry to the building.

The phone will be turned over to the assistant principal’s office where it will be stored and secured until the end of the school day. At the end of the school day, students will retrieve their phone by showing their school ID. Basically, no pouch – no cell phone.

We want our students to be engaged in their learning; therefore, we ask that you refrain from contacting your student during the school day unless it is an emergency. Should you need to contact your student, please call the school’s front office.

In case of an emergency, we will follow all campus and district safety procedures to ensure the safety of our students. Once students are safe and secure, school staff will be able to unlock cell phone pouches for student use.

Students are in possession of their phone – in their assigned cell phone pouch – for the entire school day.

The cell phone pouch will be issued to each student individually, much like a textbook. Each pouch will have a number and barcode that is unique to your student. If the pouch is damaged or lost, then the student/parent/guardian will be required to purchase a replacement pouch for the full replacement cost as determined by Administrative Procedure III-A, Exhibit A.

Students who use their smartphone to monitor a health condition will be issued a non-locking cell phone pouch and will be able to continue to monitor their condition as part of their 504 accommodations or individual health plan. All other expectations will be enforced. Parents should reach out to the campus for approval.

Staff from Yondr will be visiting the district to determine the most appropriate locations in the school for the unlocking devices. Safety, efficiency and effectiveness will be top priorities in locating the unlocking devices. Yondr staff will also be on site for the first few days of the new school year to help troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

There will not be an unlocking station outside of the building; however, every effort will be made to ensure your student unlocks their pouch prior to leaving school.

We will follow a progression of consequences for students who violate the cell phone-free environment procedure. Each violation will have a consequence which ranges from a warning on the first offense to the possibility of being assigned to DAEP on the sixth offense. See Administrative Procedure VII-EE.

1. As students enter school, they place their phone in their assigned Yondr Pouch. 
2. Students close and secure their Pouch, keeping it on them throughout the day. 
3. When leaving school, students tap their Pouch on a Base to retrieve their phone. 

The FAQs will be updated as the implementation gets underway for the 2024-25 school year. If you have a question regarding the implementation of phone free schools, please send an email to: phonefreeschools@killeenisd.org