Disconnect to Reconnect

For school leaders driving the shift from restriction to student agency, you’re not just enforcing a phone policy—you’re creating a culture of presence and connection.

Schools partnering with The Commons are taking a modern, research-backed approach to reducing digital distractions — one that respects student privacy and supports student agency.

By combining behavioral economics, distraction-blocking technology, and an integrated digital citizenship curriculum, The Commons helps students build the focus and self-regulation skills they’ll carry well beyond the school day.

Unlike physical pouches and blanket bans, The Commons is easy to implement and sustain year after year. It allows school administrators to restore presence and togetherness so that teachers can focus on teaching, students feel they belong, and everyone thrives.

Student on phone during class. Distracted and not paying attention.

Students lose 270 learning hours each year from cell phones

‘Teens are spending an average of 1.5 hours, of a 6.5 hour school day, on cell phones, with 25% of students logging on for more than two hours.’

Adolescent Smartphone Use During School Hours, JAMA Pediatrics 2025

Finding The Commons Ground through The Commons Solution. One side shows teachers want like relief from daily policing of cell phones and parents want for direct contact in the event of an emergency. The Commons was designed to serve all stakeholders.

Community thrives where distractions don’t.

Image of per on their phone distracted by social media and other distracting applications.

Smart Activation

Illustration of a hand giving a thumbs up with a blue background.

Automatically blocks distraction technology while preserving critical communication functions.

Sustainable Solution

No physical equipment to maintain or manage; consistent, automated activation across campus

Illustration of a smartphone displaying a green padlock, indicating security or privacy.

Privacy-First Design

Illustration with a person icon, a yellow pie chart, and a calculator symbol.

Customizable policies that respect student privacy while providing actionable insights

Real-Time Analytics

Dashboard analytics show which aren’t following the policy helping inform decision-making and policy refinement

Make it Common.

Group of students collaborating around a desk in a classroom environment, with one student in the background writing on a whiteboard.

Make your school a place where curiosity, [human] connection, and growth thrive without “distraction technology.”

Students and educators engage more deeply without the pull of endless disruptions. Essential communication remains at hand, yet distracting apps fade into the background. This is the world The Commons™ is helping build—where technology supports learning, relationships flourish, and everyone can be fully present together.

Contact us to find out more about becoming a Fall 2025 pilot school.

Interested in making your school a place where curiosity, connection, and growth thrive?

We’d love to hear from you—whether you’re a school leader, community partner, or potential investor.

Tell us a bit about yourself, and we’ll be in touch soon to explore how The Commons™ can help you achieve your goals.