Legislation tightens existing student phone policies across all Virginia public schools.
By David Holloway | The Commonwealth Wire
Virginia public schools will operate under strengthened cell phone restrictions after Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed legislation sponsored by a Fairfax County state senator into law.
The new law builds upon existing Virginia Department of Education guidelines that encouraged local school districts to limit student cell phone use during instructional time. The legislation makes these restrictions more uniform across the state’s 132 school divisions.
State Sen. Stella Pekarsky, D-Fairfax, sponsored the bill following concerns from educators and parents about classroom distractions and student mental health impacts related to social media access during school hours.
“This policy change reflects what we’re hearing from teachers, administrators, and families across Virginia,” Pekarsky said in a statement. “Students need focused learning environments free from digital distractions.”
The law requires all Virginia K-12 public schools to implement policies that restrict student cell phone and social media use during instructional time by the start of the 2025-26 school year. Individual school districts retain flexibility to determine specific enforcement mechanisms, including whether to require phones to be stored in lockers, pouches, or other designated areas.
Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia’s largest school district with approximately 188,000 students, already piloted cell phone restrictions in select middle schools during the current academic year. The district reported improved classroom engagement and reduced disciplinary issues related to phone use.
School divisions in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Richmond have implemented varying degrees of cell phone limitations over the past two years. The new state law standardizes these efforts across rural and urban districts statewide.
Exceptions to the restrictions include emergency situations, students with documented medical needs, and educational activities that specifically incorporate mobile technology under teacher supervision.
The Virginia Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, supported the legislation. VEA President James Fedderman noted that member surveys consistently showed cell phone distractions as a top classroom management concern.
“Teachers spend significant instructional time addressing phone-related disruptions,” Fedderman said. “This law helps restore focus to learning.”
Some parent advocacy groups raised concerns about emergency communication during school hours. The legislation addresses these concerns by requiring schools to maintain clear procedures for parent-student contact through main office systems during emergencies.
Virginia joins at least 15 other states that have enacted similar statewide cell phone restrictions in K-12 schools since 2023. The trend reflects growing national concern about student screen time and social media impacts on academic performance and mental health.
Implementation details and specific penalties for violations will be determined by individual school districts in coordination with the Virginia Department of Education before the fall 2025 semester begins.
Key Facts
- New Virginia law requires all K-12 public schools to restrict student cell phone use during instructional time starting fall 2025
- Legislation sponsored by State Sen. Stella Pekarsky, D-Fairfax, and signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin
- Individual school districts retain flexibility to determine specific enforcement mechanisms
- Fairfax County Public Schools already piloted restrictions with reported improvements in classroom engagement
- Virginia joins at least 15 other states with similar statewide K-12 cell phone restrictions
