Cell phone restrictions in VA schools: Guidelines released by state

VIRGINIA — While some school districts in Northern Virginia have already restricted or banned their students' cell phone use during school hours, the Virginia Department of Education has released a draft policy to limit student cell phone use during class at schools across the state.

The draft policy comes after Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order requiring school districts in grades K-12 to establish policies to limit students' cellphone use during the school day. The governor's order aims to prevent distractions in the classroom and cites research showing that social media and cellphone use have negative effects on mental health.

The Virginia Department of Education will accept public feedback through September 15. The state's final guidelines will be issued on September 16, and school districts will be directed to adopt cell phone use policies by January 1, 2025.

From kindergarten through fifth grade, the state recommends that students not use cell phones and personal devices in school buildings and on school grounds. Devices that parents allow their children to bring to school must be turned off and stowed away during the school day, the guidance says.

Rules for middle school students in sixth through eighth grades state that cell phones and other devices must be put away and turned off during the school day. School divisions can set rules for device use before and after school, on school buses, in school buildings outside of class, and on school grounds.

In secondary schools from ninth to 12th grade, cell phones and other devices are not allowed during the school day, the policy states. Students must put their devices away during the school day and may use them before or after class.

Schools can provide guidance to middle and high school students on how to use school-provided devices, apps, and learning aids for academic work. Teachers and sponsors of extracurricular activities are asked to use non-social media-based apps to communicate with students about activities and sports during school hours.

Each school division may establish its own rules regarding the use of cell phones on school buses, at sporting events, field trips, and other events outside of the school building.

Students in elementary, middle and high schools must use school communications to contact their parents for non-emergency situations, according to the draft policy. Parents and teachers are encouraged to use school communications during the school day to communicate emergency and non-emergency situations.

For emergencies, state law already requires schools to have school emergency plans in place that include communicating with parents and reunifying students. The guidelines say adults in schools should have access to a cellphone or class phone to communicate crisis messages and emergency plans, but adults are asked to “lead by example” and set limits on personal cellphone use during the school day.

Virginia Department of Education guidelines provide exceptions to cell phone restrictions to comply with IEP or 504 plans. The guidelines recommend exploring alternatives to cell phones for student use.

Some school districts in Northern Virginia have already implemented current restrictions on cell phones.

Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia's largest school district, is launching a pilot cellphone-free program at select middle and high schools in the new school year. Middle school students will use lockable storage bags, and high school students will be instructed to keep their devices in central storage units in classrooms.

The Loudoun County School Board has adopted a new policy prohibiting the use of cell phones during the school day or during class time (depending on grade level). The policy will go into effect with the new school year.