"Louder lunchroom" is a measurable outcome. So is kids playing Poker

Was it measured before and after? Or did they take a couple of anecdotes (from people with a vested interest, at that) as fact?

The article is full of accounts of positive, measurable outcomes, that are already happening.

Outcomes meaning test scores, behavior, mental health. I have two kids in NYC high schools including at least one of the schools they were canvassing at. They have not observed any changes. My oldest used to use her phone for schoolwork during the day pretty frequently and now she can't, so homework is taking longer.