Cellphone use by students will be banned in DC Public Schools starting in the fall, the school district announced Friday.

Administrators made the decision as part of an effort to “refocus student attention on the primary mission of schools — academic excellence,” they said in a statement.

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"Piloting a phone-free program in our middle schools demonstrated that storing students’ personal devices throughout the school day enriches academic, social, and emotional learning,” DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee said in the statement. "From increased classroom engagement to reduced anxiety and stronger student relationships — DCPS is ready to scale the program so we can keep driving outcomes that positively impact our students."

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