July 16, 2024 – Virginia is poised to become the next state to ban cellphone use in schools, as it explores ways to make the measure more palatable to students and teachers.
Governor Glen Yangkin has signed Executive Order 33, which aims to restrict or completely prohibit the use of cellphones during school hours. However, the order also seeks to strike a balance between this prohibition and the need for emergency communication with parents or arranging transportation.
The Virginia Department of Education, in collaboration with the Departments of Health and Human Services, is tasked with defining a “cellphone-free education.” This may involve providing phone pouches or lockers, allowing students to access their phones only in case of emergencies or to coordinate pick-ups and drop-offs.
Detailed guidelines for the implementation of this policy must be submitted to K-12 schools by August 15th, and the classroom cellphone ban must be enforced this year. The governor’s order cites a study by the American Psychological Association, which found that children who use social media for more than three hours per day are at a 100% increased risk of developing mental health issues.
Furthermore, the order points out that students currently spend nearly five hours per day on their phones, far exceeding the psychologically safe threshold. Limiting phone use in the classroom is also expected to improve concentration. Research indicates that students who use their phones during class are more distracted, learn less efficiently, and ultimately perform poorly.
To support this initiative, Virginia will allocate $500,000, part of which will be used for mental health initiatives or to establish and promote best practices for limiting phone use in classrooms.
Public hearings will be held to gather input for age-appropriate policies and procedures. The final guidelines are expected to be released on September 16th, with implementation planned by January 1st, 2025.
Notably, two of the largest school districts in the US, New York City Public Schools and Los Angeles Unified School District, announced similar measures to restrict phone use in schools last month.
