How Fort Bragg High School Built a Sustainable, Phone-Free Learning Culture with a Multi-Tiered Safe Pouch System

John Nguyen
Oct 9
5 min read

Smartphones are ubiquitous—and so are the distractions, social pressures, and classroom disruptions that come with them. Fort Bragg High School tackled this head-on, shifting from reminders and hallway policing to a multi-tiered Safe Pouch system that makes phone-free learning the default, not the exception. This post breaks down their policy, the operational playbook behind it, and how any school can adapt the model for lasting results.

Why a Multi-Tiered Safe Pouch?

Traditional “away and out of sight” rules put teachers in constant enforcement mode and leave wiggle room for inconsistency. A Safe Pouch system changes the environment: phones and wearables are secured at the start of the day and stay that way, so attention can return to instruction. Fort Bragg pairs that with MTSS-style tiers—universal routines for everyone, targeted supports for students who struggle, and intensive responses for repeat issues. The outcome: clarity, fairness, and fewer conflicts.

The Policy at a Glance

Core rule: Phones/electronic devices are not to be used during school.Personal pouch: Every student is assigned a personal Phone Pouch. The pouch is school property; students are responsible for bringing it daily and keeping it in good condition.Family partnership: Families are encouraged to have students leave gaming devices and extra electronics at home.

Daily Process (Simple and Repeatable)

Power down the phone on arrival.
Pouch all devices—phones, earbuds, smartwatches—before entering campus.
Store the pouch in the backpack for the day (lunch excluded).
Unpouch at dismissal, remove the phone, and put the pouch back in the backpack for tomorrow.

Late arrival/early dismissal: Students pouch/unpouch in the Main Office—no ad-hoc exceptions.

Multi-Tiered Accountability (MTSS Alignment)

Tier 1 – Universal (for all students)

Daily pouch routine and visible norms across campus.
Consistent language: “Off, Pouch, Backpack.”
Families get clear comms about expectations and supports.

Tier 2 – Targeted (when issues arise)Triggered by pouch damage, lost pouch, or unauthorized phone use:

Administration collects the pouch/phone and calls home.
1st offense: Device confiscated and returned to parent only. Student calls home; phone is checked into the office each morning for 2 weeks and the student receives a modified structured day.

Tier 3 – Intensive (repeat or significant issues)

2nd offense: Device confiscated and returned to parent only; student calls home; Saturday school assigned; morning check-ins for the remainder of the school year.
Further infractions: May lead to loss of privileges (field trips, dances, etc.).

Operational clarity:

$30 fee for a replacement pouch.
Examples of pouch damage (to set expectations and reduce disputes):
- Bent pin
- Ripped fabric
- Deep scratches on the lock exterior + green ring
- Intentional pen marks inside the pouch
- Pin/button not fully recessing due to pin damage

Forgotten pouches: If a student forgets theirs, the phone is collected, admin calls home to remind parents, and the phone is returned at dismissal. Chronic forgetfulness = lost pouch → replacement process and fee as above.

Implementation Playbook

1) Policy Design & Stakeholder Alignment

Define the daily script (Off → Pouch → Backpack) and edge cases (late/early dismissals).
Map tiers to clear, specific actions (who confiscates, who calls home, where phones are stored, who logs incidents).
Preview the policy with student leaders, teachers, office staff, and families; integrate feedback for clarity and fairness.

2) Communications (Families, Students, Staff)

Families: Send a concise one-pager and FAQ in multiple languages; host a short virtual Q&A.
Students: Kickoff assembly + in-class five-minute demo the first week; show exactly how/where the pouch lives in the backpack.
Staff: Provide a classroom script and decision tree (what to do when a phone appears; how to handle refusals) plus quick-reference cards.

Family message starter (adapt as needed):

“To ensure focused learning and a safe, respectful environment, Fort Bragg High School is implementing a school-wide Safe Pouch system. Students will power off devices, secure them in their personal pouch before entering campus, and keep pouches in backpacks during the day (lunch excluded). If a pouch is lost/damaged or a phone is used during school, we’ll collect the device, contact you, and follow our tiered supports. Replacement pouches cost $30. Thank you for partnering with us.”

3) Training & Logistics

Pouch distribution in advisory/homeroom with a quick “care and use” demo.
Main Office setup for late/early arrivals and incident intake (logbook, labels, parent contact scripts).
Check-in station for Tier 2/Tier 3 morning device drop-offs.
Clear signage at campus entry points and in classrooms.

4) Rollout Timeline (Sample)

Week 0: Stakeholder preview, finalize policy language, train staff.
Week 1: Family comms + Q&A; distribute pouches; classroom demos.
Week 2: Soft launch—modeling, reminders, and coaching; start data collection.
Week 3: Full enforcement of tiers; continue coaching and consistent follow-through.
Week 6: Review data, refine bottlenecks (e.g., morning check-in flow), share wins with community.

What to Measure (and Share)

Instructional time reclaimed: Fewer redirections; reduced transitions.
Behavioral incidents: Phone-related referrals/confiscations over time.
Attendance & engagement: Tardies, participation, assignment completion.
Family feedback: Short pulse surveys (2–3 questions) at Weeks 3 and 6.
Equity & consistency: Disaggregate outcomes to ensure fair application across student groups.

Post a monthly dashboard to staff: short, visual, and action-oriented.

Common Questions

What about emergencies?Phones are returned at dismissal; during school, families should call the Main Office. The office can locate and support students immediately—faster and more reliable than texting mid-class.

Can students use phones at lunch?Fort Bragg’s routine excludes lunch from the backpack requirement for the pouch, but phones remain secured unless your site explicitly permits lunch use. If you do allow lunch use, document the precise unlock/lock locations and supervision.

What if a student refuses to pouch?Follow the decision tree: calm reminder → policy restatement → administrator call-in. Keep consequences predictable (Tier 2/3) and document each step.

What if a student doesn’t bring their pouch?Treat as a forgotten pouch: collect phone, call home, return at dismissal; repeat instances are handled as lost pouch with replacement fee.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Inconsistent follow-through: The system works because it’s predictable. Avoid exceptions.
Vague damage criteria: Fort Bragg’s list prevents debates and speeds resolution.
Under-communicating logistics: Families need the “how” (office number, late arrival routine, replacement process).
No data loop: Without tracking, you can’t celebrate wins or fix bottlenecks.

Signs It’s Working

Fewer mid-class disruptions and redirections.
Shorter transitions and smoother starts/ends of periods.
Reduced social media incidents during school hours.
Students report less pressure to “be online.”
Staff confidence increases; enforcement feels fair and supported.

Adapting This Model to Your Campus

Start with Fort Bragg’s backbone:

Universal routine (Off → Pouch → Backpack).
Clear tiers with family partnership built in at each step.
Operational specifics (office flow, check-in station, damage criteria, replacement fee).
Transparent communication and simple staff tools (script, decision tree, quick-ref).
Data, reflection, and iteration every 4–6 weeks.

Phone-free schools aren’t about punishment—they’re about designing a learning environment where attention, safety, and belonging come first. Fort Bragg High School shows that with a tight routine, fair tiers, and genuine family partnership, phone-free can be both effective and sustainable.

Disclaimer: This article summarizes Fort Bragg High School’s current phone-free practices for illustrative purposes. Specific procedures (e.g., daily routines, exceptions, consequences, replacement fees) may change over time or vary in practice. For the most current and authoritative information, please refer to the school’s official communications.