VA School Cell Phone Ban Now In Effect: What To Know

VIRGINIA — During class time, students may have the temptation to take out their cell phones scroll through social media or message friends. That risk of distractions and the impact on learning was cited as reasons for new statewide restrictions on cell phone use in the classroom.

By Jan. 1, 2025, K-12 school divisions in Virginia must have adopted policies meeting the minimum guidance provided by the Virginia Department of Education. The guidance, promoted by an executive order by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, was finalized after a public comment period.

According to the guidance, students must have cell phones turned off and stored away during the bell-to-bell school day. High school students are allowed to use cell phones before and after the school day, and school districts could set policies for middle school student use before and after school.

School districts may also determine policies for off-site events and activities, such as field trips and bus transportation. The guidance calls for students and parents or guardians to use school-based communications to get in touch for emergencies and non-emergencies.

Exceptions are allowed for students with medical needs through IEPs, 504 plans or individualized health-care plans. Feedback during the public comment period indicated that some students may use phone-based apps to monitor their health for medical safety.

School districts have the discretion to determine cell phone policies for off-site events and activities, such as field trips and bus transportation. The guidance calls for students and parents or guardians to use school-based communications to get in touch for emergencies and non-emergencies and for school districts to share their emergency communications plans.

Policies by School District

School boards around the state have adopted policies to meet the state standards for cell phone restrictions. Here is how some of Northern Virginia's school districts are regulating student cell phone use.

Arlington Public Schools: The Arlington School Board adopted a cell phone policy on Dec. 12 to take effect when students return from winter break.

As of Jan. 6, 2025, Arlington Public Schools students are required to turn off cell phones and devices and store them away during the entire school day. High schools will provide a room where students can access phones during a designated time of day. In the event of emergencies, students who can safely access phones will be able to use them. Students may request exemptions for accommodations or medical needs through their 504 plan, Individualized Education Plan or Individualized Health Care Plan.

Alexandria City Public Schools: Alexandria City Public Schools had a more lenient policy on cell phone restrictions, but the state guidance required the school system to amend its policy. The new policy removes the ability for teachers to determine if student cell phones are appropriate for learning.

The new policy changes the policy for elementary students from silencing and storing devices to turning off and storing devices. Elementary school students will need parental permission to use a cell phone on school grounds before or after school.

The main changes for middle school students is that devices must be stored in addition to being silenced. High school students no longer have the ability to use cell phones during lunch and passing periods, as cell phones are restricted during the bell-to-bell school day. For middle school and high school students, smartwatches are now treated with the same restrictions as cell phones. ACPS will let middle and high school students store devices in a secure location.

On Dec. 19, all school board members but Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi voted in favor of the amended cell phone policy.

Fairfax County Public Schools: Virginia's largest school district outlines cell phone restrictions for students and is in the midst of a cell phone storage pilot program at select schools.

"The cell phone initiative is a pilot program during the 2024-2025 school year," FCPS said in a statement provided to Patch. "As such, middle schools and high schools participating in the pilot are exploring different ways to meet the goal of creating 'a more engaged learning environment for students, free of distraction from cell phones and social media.' Focus groups are being formed to collect insights from students, staff and families on how the program is working at their school. Their feedback will help inform future efforts in this area."

In elementary and middle school, FCPS students must silence cell phones and store them in backpacks throughout the school day. Cell phones may be used before and after the school day only. In high schools, students must silence cell phones and put them away during instructional times. Students at the participating pilot program schools receive a storage pouch, while other schools allow phone storage in lockers and backpacks.

FCPS said cell phones for medical accommodations will continue to be allowed. Students must turn off phone features of smart watches at times when cell phone use is not allowed.

Loudoun County Public Schools: LCPS had implemented a new cell phone policy at the start of the 2024-2025 school year. The school board-adopted policy said elementary school students cannot use personal devices during the school day, and middle school students must keep devices silent and away in lockers.

For high school students, devices must be in a classroom storage location but not on them or in their backpacks. Under the policy, high school students could only use devices during non-class times by specific instruction from school administration. Teachers may also get approval from school administration for students to use personal devices for class activities.

The restrictions don't apply to devices LCPS issues for student learning or personal technology for a medical need with documentation like an IEP or 504 plan.

LCPS had been collecting feedback from families on what is and isn't working with the policy. The district will determine if changes to the policy are needed based on feedback and the Virginia Department of Education's guidance.

"LCPS recognizes that fewer distractions for students and teachers lead to a more successful learning environment, which is why LCPS instituted its Student Personal Device Use policy prior to the beginning of the school year," LCPS spokesperson Dan Adams told Patch. "While the division feels the policy has led to significant improvement in the learning environment, we are still dedicated to engaging with those impacted."

Prince William County Public Schools: The second-largest school district in Virginia is conducting a pilot program at 33 schools to restrict cell phone use during instructional times. Stricter cell phone bans for all schools are set to debut next school year.

The Prince William County School Board voted to adopt option three of the cell phone-free policy options, effective Aug. 1, 2025. According to the policy, elementary school students' cell phones and devices must be turned off and stored during school hours, including on field trips. There is an exception on school transportation. For middle and high school students, cell phones and devices must be turned off throughout the school day, from the tardy bell to dismissal. The policy applies to field trips. Students may use cell phones before and after school hours.

Exemptions are allowed for Section 504 plans, IEPs and other student safety, health and support plans.

PWCS will keep its existing cell phone restrictions in place for the remainder of the school year. Elementary and middle school students must silence and store away their devices during the school day, while high school students must silence and store devices during instructional times.

The other two cell phone-free options considered by the school board would have implemented new restrictions on Jan. 1, 2025. A spokesperson for PWCS said the school district met the requirement of adopting a policy by Jan. 1, 2025 according to Youngkin's executive order.

The Virginia Department of Education has a list of school district policies as of Nov. 1, 2024. Some of these policies may be out of date, as school boards may have adopted policies since then to meet state guidelines. Check with your individual school district for how it is restricting student cell phone use.

Patch Readers Respond

We opened a survey to gather feedback from Patch readers on the cell phone ban during the school day. With nearly 1,100 responses, 92.5 percent of respondents believe student cell phone use should be banned during class times.

Results were more mixed on the question of banning cell phone use during the entire school day, which the state guidance call for. A small majority of 53.8 percent support a cell phone ban throughout the school day, while 25.3 percent believe high school students only should be given lenience in between classes, and 6.4 percent believe high school and middle school students should be allowed use in between classes. There were 14.4 percent of respondents who believe all students should be able to use phones in between classes.

Our survey found 56.1 percent of respondents want emergency communications between students and families to be handled through the schools. Another 40.8 percent believe students should be allowed to use their cell phones in emergencies.

The survey included 34.1 percent of respondents that have a current K-12 student in Virginia public schools and 65.9 percent who do not.

Readers shared additional thoughts on the role of cell phones during the school day. Some agree that cell phones present a distraction.

"I have experimented with less use of social media and it is truly addictive," one respondent said. "Removing the temptation will help students ‘rewire’ their brains for school learning. We owe it to them to provide an education without distraction."

"Learning this habit in school is good, as many employers complain that their young employees cannot stay off their phones," added another respondent. "Furthermore, many jobs in this area in particular ban cell phones in the workplace due to security concerns."

"As a retired teacher, I can tell anyone that it is difficult for any teacher to keep students’ attentions when cell phones are nearby," said another respondent.

"I really believe that students have become addicted to their cell phones," another shared. "I also believe that a lot of adults are as well. It’s how our culture developed. As a FCPS high school Coach, our athletes are required to put cell phones away before practice starts and cannot retrieve them until practice ends."

Others advocated for limited cell phone use during the school day.

"My son has special needs and unfortunately doesn’t sit with anyone at lunch/no one will sit with him," said one respondent. "He uses his phone at lunch time to have something to do since he doesn’t really have anyone to talk to. I can’t imagine if he didn’t have that and just sat there. I think allowing the students to use their phones during breaks and at lunchtime is a good compromise. I do think the phones should be put away during classroom time though."

Some addressed the concern of communications during emergencies.

"I understand the need to keep kids from cell phones and concentrated in learning, but in case of a school shooting I’d like to make sure my child is safe and for my children to be able to call 911," said one respondent.

"In the event of an active shooter or other school emergency, cell phones are useful," another wrote. "I'm not sure how to balance the distraction in the classroom from use during instruction time with the need for use under emergency circumstances."

One respondent suggested, "When the next school shooting happens, a case study should be done to determine how the use of cell phones or lack there of impacted the communication with parents."