How do Virginia’s new phones-in-schools guidelines line up with Alexandria’s policy?

Ahead of the start of the school year, the Virginia Department of Education has released a draft of new guidelines for restricting student cell phone use, though for the most part this aligns with the pre-existing cellphone policy in Alexandria schools.

Alexandria City Public Schools approved regulations governing cell phone use in schools last year, effective for the 2023-2024 school year.

The state guidelines say it is up to individual school divisions to define storage options, but options include student backpacks, lockers, locked pouches or a designated place in the classroom. The ACPS guidelines say cell phones must be silenced, turned off, and stored in lockers, backpacks, or purses.

Though the ACPS policy separates the regulation by elementary school, middle school and high school students, the wording in each category is identical:

Personal mobile devices must be silenced (or turned off) and put away during the school day. Personal mobile devices can be stored in a school-identified secure location.. Smart watches may be worn, however communications features should remain off during the school day. Students are prohibited from using cell phones, tablets, and mobile devices, including ACPS issued devices, in restrooms and locker rooms in an effort to protect the privacy rights of others.

This policy aligns fairly closely with the new guidelines put out by the Virginia Department of Education.

At the High School level, the Department of Education guidelines say:

1. High school students shall not have a cell phone or personal electronic communication device during the bell-to-bell school day.
2.  If cell phones or personal electronic communication devices are brought to school, they must also be stored and off during the bell-to-bell school day.
3. Outside of the bell-to-bell instructional time, cell phones and personal electronic communication devices may be used on a high school campus before or after school.
4. During bell-to-bell instructional time, students must use school-based communication tools and platforms (whether in the office, classroom, or other centralized location) to communicate non-emergency needs with parents.
5. Parents should use school-based communication tools and channels to communicate emergencies during bell-to-bell instructional time.
6. Educators and all co-curricular and extra-curricular sponsors must use non-social media based apps to communicate activity and athletic scheduling information with students during school hours.
7. Schools should give high school students developmentally appropriate guidance and support on the appropriate use of school-issued technology devices, educational apps and educational tools for academic (both classroom and homework assignments) and for educational research purposes.

The Virginia Department of Education is collecting feedback on the new guidelines through Sept. 15. The recommendations will be formally issued to school systems on Jan. 1 and are likely to be discussed in School Board meetings this fall. The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m.