Free to Focus SC is the South Carolina Department of Education's initiative to create a phone-free school environment that fosters a positive learning experience free from electronic distractions.
On Sept. 3, 2024, the State Board of Education officially adopted a model policy prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices during the school day.
Local districts have had to adopt their own policies that must be fully implemented in every school no later than the beginning of the January 2025 semester.
ORANGEBURG COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
"We've done some pilots for the last two months. This isn't new. Now we're just going to make it widespread. Our parents have been aware since August," OCSD Superintendent Dr. Shawn Foster said.
Foster said information about the policy has been sent to parents and grade-level meetings have been had with students.
The district has also produced a video with Student Services Director Heyward Jean explaining how the district's policy will work.
"We'll be using Yondr pouches that will help us follow through with this policy. Schools will decide if they use a one-to-one process, where they'll be administering Yondr pouches for students to take home, or some schools may decide that they'll keep the Yondr pouches here, but all students will have a Yondr pouch that they will keep with them throughout the entire instructional day," Jean said.
Yondr uses a patented system to create phone-free spaces for artists, educators, organizations and individuals.
Students ensure that their phones are powered down before placing their phone in a locked Yondr pouch.
"Yondr pouches will be locked and Yondr pouches will be provided right back to the student to keep with students throughout the entire instructional day. They are not to do anything to break them, tear them, anything that can damage them. ... If they are damaged, there are assessment fees that students will have to process with their schools according to the procedures that have been put in place," Jean said.
He continued, "Also, if cell phones are caught in use, or it has been determined that students have damaged the bags, then we will be following code of conduct procedures to ensure those consequences are met because of those infractions."
"But we believe that students are going to go through this process without having to go through any of that," Jean said.
Students will go to their designated dismissal locations, where there will be stationary metal unlocking bases through which Yondr pouches will be unlocked.
"Some employees will have hand-held unlocking bases, as well. Students will go through their dismissal process ... and the cell phone pouch and cell phone will be given back to the students," Jean said.
"Some schools will decide to give students their pouch to take home, or some schools will receive the pouch back to keep at school. Schools will also have the option to provide medical pouches for students who need medical pouches. These will be provided on a case-by-case basis," he said.
Elementary school students will not receive Yondr pouches, but all schools — elementary, middle and high — will be provided cellphone lockers.
"While elementary school students will not receive Yondr pouches, they will receive a cellphone locker per school to ensure that if a student is found with a cellphone, that we can safely store their cellphones in our cellphone lockers," Jean said.
He continued, "In the event that students in middle and high school do not have their Yondr pouches, it is damaged, misplaced or not found, there will be instances where students in those cases will have their cellphones stored in our cellphone lockers, as well."
BAMBERG COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Bamberg County School District Superintendent Dottie Brown said the school district has had its new personal communication device policy in place since November.
"Our parents and students are already used to this, thus we don't anticipate any issues when we return from break," Brown said.
"Parents and students were fully informed and prepared in the fall of this new policy by principals," she said.
The BCSD board adopted the policy in November.
"Overall, our parents have been very supportive and our students are doing a great job complying," Brown said.
"Students do not have to turn in phones. They rather have to have phones turned off and put away for the duration of the school day, but this does not include after-school, extra-curricular, or athletic activities/events," the superintendent said.
The district's policy states that devices should be powered off during the school day and stored as directed by the school district. The policy states that students must store their devices and device accessories "in lockers, backpacks or otherwise as directed by the school district during the school day."
"Exceptions granted for medical necessity, authorized for classroom use, or other authorized reasons should be in writing and not be considered violations," the policy states.
Brown said, "The new policy allows students to be more focused on instruction without the distraction of cell phones and other devices during the day."
CALHOUN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Superintendent Dr. Ferlondo Tullock said the district has been emphasizing the new changes through a variety of communication methods.
"We have been communicating with our stakeholders through phone-blasts and emails, emphasizing the upcoming changes in possession and use of the personal communication devices. We have been stressing that devices must be in the off position and stored when the school day begins," he said.
"We are allowing students to keep devices with them. However, they must adhere to the law/policy of no use until the school day ends. Students are permitted to use the devices on buses on the ride to and from school, during field trips and when traveling to athletic events," the superintendent said.
Tullock continued, "We are allowing students to keep devices on their person and in book bags so as not to create another anxiety for students or staff of having to remember to retrieve or distribute devices at the end of the day."
The superintendent said he does not anticipate any problems implementing the new policy.
"Students and staff have been operating in anticipation of the new expectations since the beginning of the school year," he said. "I am extremely appreciative of the efforts of our students, staff and community as we transition to the new procedures."
"We understand the need to remove the distractions from the classroom to allow students and staff to be free to focus on the instructional material being presented," he said.
©2025 The Times and Democrat (Orangeburg, S.C.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
