Salem-Keizer implements ‘bell-to-bell’ phone-free policy; Yondr pouches adopted at secondary schools

Deputy Superintendent Niz told the Salem-Keizer SD 24J Board of Directors on Sept. 23 that the district has implemented a districtwide “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy for the 2025–26 school year and that most high schools and some middle schools are deploying Yondr pouches to support the rule.

Niz said the policy — described in district materials as “student acceptable use of electronic resources” — requires cell phones and other personal electronic devices to be “off and away from entrance to exit,” while students continue to have access to district-provided Chromebooks for instructional activities. "This means that cell phones and other electronic communication devices are off and away from the start of the school day until the end," Niz said.

Niz told the board the updated policy aligns with an executive order from Governor Kotek calling for Oregon schools to be phone free during the instructional day, and that…