FAIRFAX COUNTY, Virginia (DC News Now) – The start of the 2024-2025 school year should bring fewer distractions for students at several schools participating in a cellphone-free pilot program.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) said the goals of the initiative, which begins Sept. 3, are to “limit classroom disruptions and improve student engagement and learning” by creating an environment where students are not distracted by cell phones or social media.

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The pilot program is being conducted at numerous middle and high schools:

Participating secondary schools

• Frost Middle School

• Irving Middle School

• Jackson Middle School

• Poe Middle School

• Robinson Middle School

• Thoreau Middle School

• Twain Middle School

Students enrolled in the pilot program at a participating middle school are given a special cell phone storage bag called a Yondr bag. The magnetic bag prevents students from using their phones, including for social media activity, texting and phone calls. The school division said each student is responsible for the individual bag they bring to school each day.

Every morning, students lock their cell phones in their bags and place them in their backpacks. Airpods must be in the bags or backpacks. Smartwatches must be turned off or in airplane mode. Students unlock their bags at the end of the school day.

In the event of a family emergency, parents/guardians/carers should contact the school office.

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Participating high schools

• Edison-Gymnasium

• Falls Church High School

• Justice High School

• Lewis-Gymnasium

• Madison High School

• McLean High School

• Robinson-Gymnasium

• Westfield High School

Students participating in the pilot program at a participating high school place their cell phones in storage units at the beginning of each class period.

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If you have questions about the program, you will find answers to many frequently asked questions on Fairfax County Public Schools websiteThe school department said people could also contact their children’s school.

There are efforts underway in other school districts, as well as by legislators in Richmond and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), to ban cell phones in the state’s schools.

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