Virginia Department of Education releases cell phone-free policy

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) unveiled its final policy on implementing cell phone-free school days across the state on Tuesday.

This policy initiative follows an Executive Order issued by Governor Glenn Youngkin in early July, mandating that the VDOE develop guidelines for phone-free school environments.

The initial draft of the policy proposed a “ bell-to-bell ” rule, which would require students to keep their phones off and out of sight from the start of the school day until dismissal.

In the weeks leading up to the finalization of the policy, the department has sought feedback from the public through online submissions and community meetings held throughout Virginia. The department’s aim has been to gather input from various stakeholders to ensure that the final policy reflects the community’s perspectives and concerns.

The Richmond City School Board also held a series of listening sessions to gather community feedback on implementing a cell phone-free policy in city schools.

VDOE had promised to release the finalized policy on Monday, Sept. 16, though it wasn’t until 11:20 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17, that the policy was released .

School divisions will have until Jan. 1, 2025 to implement the new regulations.

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