PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — Starting next August, Prince William County students will have to put their phones away from the beginning of school until dismissal. The policy passed 6-2 at a Prince William County School Board meeting Wednesday night.
The vote came after an executive order from Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in July and September guidance from the Virginia Department of Education that called on schools throughout the commonwealth to establish “cellphone-free education in public schools.”
“The necessity … is evident,” Gov. Youngkin said in July. “… In addition to the worsening state of youth mental health in the past decade, the state academic achievement also suffered, as measured by the precipitous drop in the National Assessment for Educational Progress scores beginning in 2012.”
Different cellphone policies were debated by school board members on Wednesday night but the board ultimately settled on one that would force students to put away their phones throughout the entire school day. As opposed to next month, the policy will go into effect in August 2025.
The measure would not ban phones entirely from schools but would require students to put their phones away by the first late bell until dismissal.
Students, parents and other school officials participated in the school board meeting. With some advocating for more restrictive measures and others arguing for the more lenient pilot program that would allow some cellphone use during the school day.
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While school board members voted against implementing the policy starting in January, with most board members arguing that the timeline was too speedy, the Prince William County school board voted 6 to 2 to put the policy in place starting in August 2025.
“Implementing a midyear change risks appearing perfunctory,” Board Member Justin Wilk of Potomac said. “Schools currently have established routines under the pilot program.”
Erica Tredinnick of Brentsville and Loree Williams of Woodbridge voted against the measure.
Tredinnick argued that the August 2025 implementation date was too late and wanted to follow the guidelines set forth by Gov. Glenn Youngkin who had called on school boards to pass cellphone restrictions by January.
Read full article: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/education/prince-william-county-schols-cellphone-ban-virginia-glenn-youngkin-ban/65-0b440830-2bcf-481b-aa7a-d02112fe5e96