ARTICLE UPDATE 9/18/24:
The Virginia Department of Education released its final guidance on cell phones in schools, intended to improve student learning, social interaction, and mental health.
The document, “Guidance for Cell Phone-Free Education Pursuant to Executive Order 33,” bans students from using cell phones for the entire day, including during lunch and free time between classes. It is left up to school districts to decide whether students can carry their phones in their backpacks or whether they must be stored in a locker or locked pouch.
High school students may use their phones on school grounds before or after the school day. Elementary students who bring phones to school cannot use them on school grounds but middle school students can use their phones before or after school, depending on the policy the local school division sets.
The guidance specifies that children with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), 505 plan accommodations, or Individual Health Care Plan may be granted an exception to use their phones during the day for their health monitoring or related needs but that “alternatives to using a cell phone should be explored,” Cardinal News reports.
Virginia Cell Phone Guidance Pushes for Improved Emergency Communication Between Schools, Families
The guidance includes new information about best practices for communicating with families during emergency situations, a concern raised by many opponents of similar bans in other states. It advises districts to create clear policies about whether students can access their phones during a school emergency, recommending local divisions strengthen overall communication lines with families.
“It became very apparent there are general gaps in parent, teacher and school communication resulting in parents feeling like they must communicate directly with their child for both emergency and non-emergency situations,” reads the state’s announcement. “Specifically, concerns focused on the ability for a parent to contact their child in a school-based emergency, including during or immediately after lockdowns.”
The guidance also includes a 15-page appendix on managing school-based emergencies, and the state is set to create a task force to help schools enhance their emergency communications.
The education department was directed to create the guidance after Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order in July. The department received nearly 6,000 public comments between July and Sept. 15.
“This guidance from the Virginia Department of Education is an important step towards creating a healthier learning environment where students can receive a quality education free from harmful distractions,” Youngkin said in a statement Tuesday.
According to the state’s news release, the department will issue an Administrator’s Toolkit this week “to support school leaders’ implementations of their local policies.” The guidance must be implemented by Jan. 1, 2025.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE 9/17/24:
RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Department of Education is set to release its final guidelines on using cell phones in schools.
In July, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33 to “help bring cell phone-free education to Virginia schools,” directing the Department of Education to create the guidelines.
The department released draft guidance last month that says students’ phones should be turned off and put away from when the first bell rings to when the last bell rings. Where the phones are kept is a local decision but students cannot have them on their person or in their pockets. Schools will be expected to adopt the final policies and procedures by Jan. 1, 2025.
RELATED ARTICLE: Which States Have Banned Cell Phones in Schools?
Overall, proponents of these bans say cell phones significantly impact student learning and contribute to the youth mental health crisis. Last fall, about seven in 10 U.S. high school teachers reported that students being distracted by their phones was a “major problem” in classrooms, according to a study by Pew Research Center. In May 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory calling on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms regarding their effects on young people. According to a 2023 report from Common Sense Media, half of kids ages 11 to 17 receive at least 237 notifications on their phones on a typical day — 25% of which are received during the school day.
Opponents say it would be difficult for teachers and staff to enforce a ban, and that parents should be able to reach their children at any point during the day in case of an emergency. Many fall somewhere in the middle, agreeing that cell phones are an issue but that a total ban is too extreme and that it should be left up to local districts, not states.
As of Aug. 2024, four states have enacted legislation regarding cell phones in schools, including Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, and South Carolina. California is also likely to be added to the list after the Phones-Free Schools Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Assemblyman Josh Hoover, passed through the legislature on Aug. 28.
Several states have also created policies that limit or encourage districts to limit cell phone usage in classrooms, including Ohio, Alabama, Connecticut, and Minnesota. Read more about the specific laws, policies, and proposed legislation here.
Many Virginia School Districts Have Implemented Own Cell Phone Policies
Many schools in Virginia already have cell phone policies in place, WSLS reports. In Alleghany Highlands, elementary school students cannot use cell phones until the end of the day. Middle and high schoolers can only use them during lunch and class transitions.
RELATED ARTICLE: Surgeon General Warns of Social Media Impact on Youth Mental Health
Campbell County Schools already has a “cell-phone-free education” policy for elementary and middle school students while high schoolers can only access phones during lunch. At Amherst Public Schools, secondary students can bring their phones with them but they must be placed in a locker for the entire day. Principal Joey Crawford told WSLS that teachers have noticed students are more engaged.
