Rizzlock was born in a budget meeting.

Hey, I'm Michael, creator of Rizzlock. I'm a dad and for many years served as treasurer and then president of the PTA at my kids' school.

When it came to devices in school, I considered my family lucky. My kids attended a middle school that adopted a phone-free policy a decade ago, long before it was mandated. To ensure kids are off their screens and engaged in class, the school supplies each student with a lockable pouch. Each day, before entering the building, staff confirms that students' devices are off and secured in the pouch. Devices remain in the pouch until they are unlocked when students exit the building after the final bell.

The day of the budget meeting that changed everything, I was not surprised to see the cell-phone pouches as a line item. It made sense that the school would need to buy a substantial supply to accommodate its [X NUMBER] of students.

What DID surprise me was the amount.

THIRTY DOLLARS per student!!

Our school had to budget a minimum of $42,000 to purchase the market-leading solution for securing cell phones. My jaw dropped when I saw that number and my head was fuming.

Now, as I mentioned—I believe in screen-free schools. I've seen firsthand how access to phones in the classroom distract, isolate and inhibit both academic and social growth for students. I've watched teachers fight a losing battle against the constant dopamine hits a cell phone provides. Additionally, all indicators point to a uniform school-wide policy being more effective than a fractured, classroom-by-classroom approach, making school-provided pouches a strong solution. However... at $30 a kid?! That is money many schools simply do not have.

Shortly after that budget meeting, and fueled by the feeling that my school community was being robbed, I set out to create an alternative. A solution that allowed schools to build the same phone-free culture for a fraction of the price. And I'm happy to say, after some trial and error, we've succeeded.

Introducing... Rizzlock.

A screen-free solution that is strong, simple, effective, and most notably... at only $12 each... affordable.

Currently in its 8th version, Rizzlock has been shaped by feedback from teachers, principals, parents and students. It is designed to serve everyone in the school community including teachers and administrators as an effective pathway to restoring an authentic and enriching educational experience.

The overwhelming of benefits of a screen-free education should not be reserved only for school communities with deep pockets.
It is my hope that Rizzlock will enable more schools to go phone-free and make the budget meeting decision to do so, a little less agonizing.