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

The Virginia Department of Education traveled across the state to meet with parents and educators to talk about what a cellphone-free classroom might look like.

The ministry has issued its draft guidelines for mobile phone-free education.

Todd Reid, senior communications adviser for the Virginia Department of Education, said the department has heard from nearly 2,000 Virginia residents.

“Taking into account all of these inputs and the research that has been done on this topic, we have published a draft policy on our website for people to view and comment on,” Reid said.

According to feedback from the department, most parents do not want mobile phones in classrooms.

“The draft policy states that students are not allowed to carry cell phones during class time. From the first ring in the morning until the last ring at the end of school, cell phones should be turned off and put away,” Reid said.

The policy provides a standard of what is expected in a Virginia classroom, but school districts can implement more stringent policies if they choose.

The guidelines provide different rules for primary school, middle school and high school.

“In elementary school, the policy is that if a child brings a child to school, they must turn off their cell phone and put it away. It cannot be left lying around anywhere in the school or on school grounds,” Reid said.

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

On August 7, Staunton City Schools enacted an “Away for the Day” cell phone policy, allowing high school students to bring their cell phones during lunch and class transitions.

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

Both directives could be changed by the new guideline.

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