Virginia Student Cell Phone Restrictions Announced: See Rules By School Level

VIRGINIA — While some Northern Virginia school districts have already curtailed or banned student cell phone use during school hours, the Virginia Department of Education has released draft guidelines for restricting student cell phone usage during classes at schools statewide.

The draft guidance comes after Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order requiring K-12 school divisions to set policies to limit student cell phone use during the school day. The governor's order seeks to eliminate distractions in classrooms and pointed to research showing poor mental health outcomes from social media and cell phone use.

Public feedback is being accepted by the Virginia Department of Education through Sept. 15. Final guidance by the state will be issued on Sept. 16, and school divisions will be instructed to adopt cell phone policies by Jan. 1, 2025.

In kindergarten through grade 5, the state recommends students may not use cell phones and personal devices in school buildings and on school grounds. Devices that parents permit their students to bring to school must be turned off and stored away during the school day, according to the guidance.

The policy for middle school students in sixth to eighth grade says cell phones and devices must be stored and turned off during the school day. School divisions may make policies for use of devices before and after school, on school buses, in school buildings outside classes, and on school grounds.

In high schools from ninth to 12th grade, cell phones and devices are not permitted during the school day, according to the guidance. Students will have to store devices during the school day and will be allowed to use devices before or after school.

Schools may give middle and high school students guidance on using school-issued devices, apps and educational tools for academic work. Teachers and extracurricular activity sponsors will be asked to use non-social media-based apps during school hours to communicate with students about activities and athletics.

Each school division will be permitted to set cell phone policies on school buses, athletics, field trips and other events outside school buildings.

Students in elementary, middle and high schools will be required to use school-based communications to contact parents for non-emergency needs, according to the draft guidance. Parents and teachers will be advised to use school communications to communicate emergencies and non-emergencies during the school day.

In cases of emergencies, state code already requires schools to have school-based emergency plans, including parental communications and reunification. The guidance says adults in schools should have access to a cell phone or classroom phone for crisis notifications and emergency safety plans. However, adults are asked to "lead by example" and create boundaries for personal cell phone use during the school day.

The Virginia Department of Education guidance will make exemptions to the cell phone restrictions to comply with IEP or 504 plans. The guidance recommends exploring alternatives to cell phones for the student's use.

Some Northern Virginia school districts have already adopted recent cell phone restrictions.

Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia's largest school division, is launching a cell phone-free pilot program at select middle and high schools in the new school year. Middle school students will use locked storage pouches, and high school students will be told to put devices in central storage units in classrooms.

Loudoun County's school board adopted a new policy that bans phone use during the school day or during classes, depending on the school level. The policy takes effect in the new school year.

Prince William County Public Schools will also introduce new cell phone restrictions in the new school year. A pilot program will start in 33 schools, requiring students to silence and store devices. High school students will be allowed to use devices during lunch and passing times, except in bathrooms and locker rooms.

According to WJLA, Arlington Public Schools is nearing the launch of a new cell phone policy to restrict cell phones during the school day. High school students will be directed to put devices away during classes.