Know Here: VA Enacts School Cell Phone Ban 

United States – Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed an executive order allowing or prohibiting cell phone use in schools to a large extent for about 1. 2 million public school students. He has attributed this to mental health problems and poor academic performance among teenagers.  

New Policies for Virginia Schools 

The order released on Tuesday requires the Virginia Department of Education to develop policies that will prevent students from using their devices during class, including pockets and cell phone lockers, as reported by Reuters. 

The education officials will have to define when exactly parents can speak to the kids if it is needed, how kids with medical issues will be solved, and what will happen in case of emergencies. 

A Growing Trend 

The decision follows a similar cell phone ban recently implemented by the Los Angeles Unified School District in a Los Angeles school. The chancellor of New York City Public Schools has also claimed that he plans to ban the use of phones in the country’s largest school district. 

They are part of a few other small school districts that recently resorted to revoking phone or social media use because of a rising belief that they are harmful to students’ learning and well-being. 

Implementation Timeline 

The Virginia Department of Education still has until September 16th to release its final guidance of the new policy that schools are to comply with by January 1st, 2025. 

“Creating a cell phone-free education environment in public schools is not only a prudent measure but an essential one to promote a healthier and more focused educational environment where every child is free to learn,” Youngkin, a Republican, said in the order, as reported by Reuters. 

Citing Research for the Ban 

Youngkin’s order called for referring to the study by the American Psychological Association, where more than three hours of daily use of social media increases the chances of poor mental health by twofold. It also presents research information showing that students who use cell phones get distracted and their concentration reduced and hence the poor performance.