Phone-free classrooms: What happens when devices disappear

Everyone has a phone in their hand these days, and kids are no exception. But increasingly, schools are starting to limit phones — or even ban them. What does that mean for students, teachers, and families? In this episode, Julian chats with Dr. Julie Mayring, middle school director and psychologist at Bay Ridge Prep in Brooklyn, about her school’s nine-year phone ban. They discuss how it affects focus, mental health, friendships, and parent communication. Dr. Mayring also shares tips on handling pushback, keeping kids safe, and making sure technology helps learning instead of getting in the way of it.

Episode 90 of the Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education podcast, hosted by Understood.org, titled "Phone-free classrooms: What happens when devices disappear" was published on January 7, 2026 and runs 17 minutes.

January 7, 2026 ·17m · Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education

Summary

Everyone has a phone in their hand these days, and kids are no exception. But increasingly, schools are starting to limit phones — or even ban them. What does that mean for students, teachers, and families? In this episode, Julian chats with Dr. Julie Mayring, middle school director and psychologist at Bay Ridge Prep in Brooklyn, about her school’s nine-year phone ban. They discuss how it affects focus, mental health, friendships, and parent communication. Dr. Mayring also shares tips on handling pushback, keeping kids safe, and making sure technology helps learning instead of getting in the way of it.

Episode Description