RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Department of Education is set to release the final guidelines on Monday for school districts to become cellphone-free zones by the start of next year.
The process began in the summer when Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33 directing VDOE to come up with guidelines.
Discussion on ‘cell phone-free’ Virginia schools reveals concern, support for policy: ‘Kind of unrealistic’
According to the draft, elementary school students would not be allowed to have cell phones in the building or on school grounds. If a parent decided their child should have a phone, it would have to be off and stored away during school.
The state would leave it up to localities how to store cellphones — like in a pouch, locker, or backpack.
In middle and high schools, students would not be allowed on their phones during instructional time, lunch or between periods. More flexibility would be allowed both before and after school.
A recent Washington Post-Schar School poll found broad support for the idea, with 69% of respondents in favor of it and 45% who were “strongly” in support of them.