BEAUMONT, Texas — A new state law requiring students to lock away phones and other devices during the school day is already showing results in Beaumont ISD classrooms, according to district officials.

It’s been just a month since students returned to school without their phones, but staff say the change has improved focus and interaction. “The kids are actually really conversing more with their instructor, conversing more with themselves,” said Randall Maxwell, the district’s senior director of student support.

The district spent nearly $250,000 on Yondr pouches for students to store their cellphones, smartwatches, and earphones at the beginning of each day. The process takes about five minutes. Maxwell said, “Every student has the ability to place their phone, their earphones, their s

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