Virginia Department of Education issues its draft guidance for cell phone free education

RICHMOND, Va. (WHSV) – On July 9, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33, to embrace cell phone-free education.

Virginia Department of Education traveled around the Commonwealth to meet with parents and educators to talk about what cell phone-free education looks like.

The department has issued its draft guidance for cell phone free education.

Todd Reid, Senior Communications Advisor for the Virginia Department of Education, said the department has heard from almost 2,000 Virginians.

“Taking all of that input plus the research that has been done on the subject, we issued draft guidance on our website that people can view and comment on,” Reid said.

Based on the feedback the department has heard, most parents do not want cell phones in the classrooms.

“The draft policy says cell phones will not be on the student’s person during bell-to-bell instructional time. From the first bell in the morning to last bell at dismissal, cell phones should be off an put away,” Reid said.

The policy is a standard of what is expected in a Virginia classroom, but school districts can implement stricter guidelines if they wish.

The guidance has different rules for elementary, middle and high School.

“In elementary school, the guidance says if a parent wants a student to bring a phone to school, it needs to be off and away. It cannot be out anywhere in school or on school grounds,” Reid said.

The final guidance will be issued on September 16, and will be adopted by school divisions by January 1,2025.

On August 7, Staunton City Schools issued an Away for the Day cell phone policy, that allows high schoolers to have phones out at lunch and during class transition.

Harrisonburg City Public Schools also made changes to its cell phone policy, bringing its middle school policy to high schools.

Both policies could see changes with the new guidance.

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