NEW BEDFORD, Mass. - BostonChron -- The Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS) is entering the phone-free zone. When the 500 students in the 5-12 New Bedford school return to classes this year, they will be locking up their phones until dismissal in a pouch that they can carry with them throughout the day.

GLCPS has purchased the Yondr system of pouches and unlocking bases. The pouch locks when it's closed. Users regain access to their phones by tapping the pouch on a device that unlocks it. Students will be able to keep their phone with them but they will not be able to use it during the school day.

Students who need their phones for medical purposes will be issued a medical pouch that allows them access to their phone.

Overall, this will create a healthier school environment for our students and staff, said Executive Director Steve Furtado, Jr.

"At a certain level, most of us have become overly dependent on our phones and we see it as a major distraction for our students," said Mr. Furtado. "By removing the proverbial 'elephant in the room,' we expect to see higher student engagement in the classroom and the cafeteria, with students interacting with their teachers and with each other instead of with their phones."

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Mr. Furtado explains that the school had already strictly limited mobile phone use in the middle school and had placed lesser restrictions at the high school level. Teachers and administrators, however, found the phones continued to be a major distraction with instructional time lost having to continually remind students to put their phones away.

The decision to join numerous other schools across the country in creating a phone-free zone is rooted in the need to create classroom environments where students can learn free from distractions; reduce the incidents of cyberbullying and exposure to harmful internet content, and; increase meaningful connections between students.

"We are confident that this new policy will improve academic performance as well as the social-emotional health of our students," Mr. Furtado said.

Open to New Bedford residents, Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS) is a tuition-free public charter school that currently serves 500 students in grades 5-12. Launched in 2002 as a Horace Mann charter school, GLCPS became a Commonwealth charter school in 2006.