Overview

• District data show widespread rollout of storage systems, with roughly 820 schools using magnetic pouches, about 600 using drop boxes or cubbies, and around 550 collecting devices in classrooms.
• Students and teachers describe fewer in-class distractions and more face-to-face interaction, though some students say the shift is inconvenient or frustrating.
• Enforcement remains uneven as some schools struggle with logistics and reports of students opening pouches or submitting fake phones lead to calls home or detention.
• Parents voice concern about reaching children during emergencies, and the city’s safety chief says schools must provide a direct number and urges families to update contact details.
• The policy covers all internet-enabled devices in many schools, creating challenges for high schoolers who rely on laptops for coursework when school-issued devices are limited.