With so many daily distractions in a student's life, having a cell phone in class is one that the Apprenticeship Exploration School is trying to eliminate.

In an email recently sent by AES Principal Lindsey Tavares to all the parents, guardians and families of AES students, she spelled out the new policy and procedure that will start day one of the new school year.

Like all Cranston Public Schools, AES engages in an annual school improvement process that involves student, faculty, parent and community representation.

“In this process, the team looks closely at a variety of data sources to inform school improvement strategies. One of the pieces of data the team looked at this year was how many of our students received formal comments on their progress reports and report cards indicating that their cell phone was a distraction to learning and negatively impacting student performance. Over 80% of AES students received these comments in the first three quarters of last school year, indicating the need for a school wide intervention,” said Tavares.

Since 2014, The Yondr pouch system is used in thousands of schools worldwide including many in the Northeast to support schools in minimizing distractions and maximizing learning for students.

"This solution was discussed with stakeholder groups including the faculty, students, families, community partners and AES Board of Directors," Tavares said.

AES anticipates having a student population of approximately 185 students this year. All students attending AES will participate in the Yondr pouch system.

Tavares reassured that all student accommodations will continue to be met.

When asked if this was a beta test for the other high schools in Cranston, Tavares answered with the following: “The Apprenticeship Exploration School is a district charter school with a distinct mission. At this time AES is implementing a solution for the needs of its students based on AES student data.”

Tavares was confident that, in the case of emergencies, all situations would be handled.

“In the instance that a family member needs to reach a student during the school day urgently they may call the main office. If a student needs to urgently make a phone call during the day they may see an administrator. In the case of a lockdown or emergency evacuation, each classroom will be equipped with an emergency pack,” said Tavares.

Tavares did her due diligence in gathering information from other districts currently utilizing the pouches.

“The cell phone distraction is an issue that many districts and other charter schools are struggling with,” Tavares said. “We feel that the Yondr pouch is the best system for AES as it allows students to maintain possession of their device(s) while not being distracted by it during the school day.”

AES has already designed a plan for the end of the day, so students are not delayed.

“We have a streamlined system for unlocking student devices quickly at the end of the day to ensure all students board buses on time,” she said.

As far as the cost of the $30 pouches, Tavares said there was no impact to the district budget.

“The school paid for them and we contributed some ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds that we had,” said Cranston Public Schools Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse.

Asked later how Cranston’s other high schools will handle cell phones this year, Nota-Masse provided the following statement: “While following our district policy, other schools are exploring various enhanced strategies to address the issue of cell phones in schools.”

The AES School, located on Sharpe Drive in Cranston, is the former NEL/Construction & Career Academy. For more information about programs offered at the AES, visit aes.cpsed.net.