As Yondr Reaches 3 Million Students Worldwide, New Report Tracks the Impact of a Phone-Free Education

Independent Academic Research and School Findings Reinforce the Case for Structured, Bell-to-Bell Policies

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Yondr, the company behind pioneering phone-free spaces, released the Phone-Free Schools Insights Report - a synthesis of research, school-reported outcomes, and policy trends documenting the state of phone-free education in 2026. This report highlights the measurable impact of phone-free school environments on student engagement and behavior, reinforcing the growing shift toward structured, device-free learning. Drawing on independent academic research, Yondr partner surveys, and insights from schools, the report takes an in-depth look at the current landscape, impact and future of bell-to-bell phone-free education.

“We now have clear evidence that students are better off when they have space to be fully present with one another. More than 3 million students worldwide start their day in a Yondr school – a number that reflects a generational shift in how schools think about attention, connection, and the conditions necessary for learning in the digital age,” said Graham Dugoni, founder and CEO of Yondr.

What the report documents:

Schools that have implemented structured, bell-to-bell phone-free programs – rather than voluntary or honor-system phone policies – consistently report stronger outcomes. Key findings from Yondr’s Partner Reflection Survey and partner schools include:

• 89% of administrators report increased peer-to-peer student interactions in lunchrooms
• 75% report increased peer-to-peer interactions in hallways
• 80% report fewer behavioral incidents over the course of the year
• 89% report that teachers are happier in a phone-free school
• At Richardson ISD in Texas, two-thirds of teachers gained 10 or more minutes of instructional time per class period, and 88% of teachers cited the Yondr program as a factor in their decision to return – contributing to a 92% teacher return rate
• At Fern Creek High School in Kentucky, state test scores increased by 7% and failed classes decreased by 1,015 – keeping more students on track for graduation and extracurricular activities
• At KIPP Nashville Collegiate High School in Tennessee, chronic absenteeism dropped by 72% and attendance increased by 6%

Independent academic research reinforces what schools are reporting. A 2024 study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that U.S. teens spend on average 66 minutes per day on their smartphones during school hours, roughly the equivalent of one and a half months of instructional time each year. Research by Brigette Whaley, an associate professor of education at West Texas A&M University, tracked the impact of a bell-to-bell phone ban at a Texas high school and found that teachers reported greater student participation and a significant drop in student anxiety. Students were no longer afraid of being filmed and could “relax in the classroom and participate.”

The report also tracks the broader policy landscape. As of March 2026, 58% of countries worldwide have enacted national school phone policies, up from 24% in June 2023. In the United States, the proportion of schools with bell-to-bell phone policies increased from 60% to 75% between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.

Looking ahead, Yondr identifies four trends shaping the next phase of phone-free education: stricter legislative standards, growing emphasis on digital literacy alongside device restrictions, increased attention to accountability for school-issued devices, and a renewed focus on the communication and collaboration skills that phone-free environments help rebuild.

The full report is available at overyondr.com/phone-free-schools-report.

About Yondr

Founded in 2014 by CEO Graham Dugoni, Yondr pioneered the phone-free movement—initially in education and live entertainment, now growing in other spaces like recreation, workplaces, and hospitality. Today, Yondr’s phone-free school program supports more than 3 million students globally every school day. overyondr.com