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Woonsocket Today
By the People, for the People
Woonsocket Schools Implement Cell Phone Ban to Curb Fights
New policy requires students to lock phones away in Yondr Pouches during school hours.
Published on Mar. 11, 2026
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Woonsocket Public Schools has implemented a cell phone ban in middle and high schools, requiring students to lock their phones away in Yondr Pouches. The move comes after a string of student fights that led to over two dozen arrests, with school officials believing social media and videos were contributing factors to the violence.
Why it matters
The cell phone ban aims to reduce the distractions and tensions caused by constant social media access, which school leaders believe was fueling physical altercations among students. This policy change is part of Woonsocket's broader efforts to improve school safety and climate following a concerning rise in campus violence.
The details
On the first day of the new policy, teachers reported seeing improved student focus and fewer disruptive incidents in their classrooms. The district also took other disciplinary actions, including transferring some students out of the district, to help curb the violence.
- The cell phone ban took effect on March 11, 2026.
- Woonsocket Public Schools approved the ban in October 2025 following a string of student fights.
The players
Woonsocket Public Schools
The public school district in Woonsocket, Rhode Island that implemented the new cell phone ban.
Paul Bourget
The chairman of the Woonsocket School Committee who said videos and social media appeared to be a contributing factor to the student fights.
Robert Stewart
A teacher and the president of the Woonsocket Teachers' Guild who has had to intervene in numerous fights since starting work with the district in 2007.
Michell Bloss
A parent who called on the district to take action after her son was brutally assaulted by other students and had to have his jaw wired shut.
What they’re saying
“For him to enter his freshman year and have to go through traumatic experience and continue to hear that fights are breaking out — it's very disheartening and it's scary.”
— Michell Bloss, Parent
“Without their phones on hand, students no longer have a constant connection to social media, so their reactions in the instant when they see something is going to be dramatically less.”
— Robert Stewart, Teacher and President of Woonsocket Teachers' Guild
“I saw success today in my classroom. It was nice. The first day without cell phones, I felt like the attention span of the students was dramatically increased.”
— Robert Stewart, Teacher and President of Woonsocket Teachers' Guild
What’s next
Rhode Island lawmakers passed a statewide cell phone ban that is expected to take effect in the 2026-2027 academic year, building on the policy changes implemented in Woonsocket.
The takeaway
The cell phone ban in Woonsocket schools represents a proactive approach to addressing student violence and disruption, with early signs indicating it has helped improve classroom focus and school climate. As other districts grapple with similar challenges, Woonsocket's experience may serve as a model for how targeted technology policies can support broader efforts to foster safer and more productive learning environments.
