Virginia Enforces Cell Phone Free Education

By: Lincoln Puls and Jenna Jenkerson

October 7, 2024

  Colgan’s classrooms look different this school year, as restrictions on cell phones have been put in place. In July, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an Executive Order to restrict phone usage in the classroom with the goal being to establish “Cell Phone Free Education”.    

   Prince William County Schools followed up on the order with a cell phone usage pilot. The final rules for the school year will be confirmed on Jan. 1, and may require cell phones to be stored away or to be put in a specialized location in the classroom during all instructional periods to minimize distractions.  On Sept. 18, the Virginia Department of Education released their final guidelines regarding cell phone free education, a 27-page document requiring cell phones be turned off from the start of the school day until dismissal, including lunch and breaks between classes. This is the first year in which the county-presents county-wide regulations regarding cell phone usage at schools.  

    This is a drastic change not only for teachers but also for students. One major change in effect is the discontinuation of E-Hall Pass 

and the return to a lanyard pass, in which a student will take a lanyard whenever they need to go anywhere in the building. Security Guard Samir Hafiz believes the return to paper passes is a good one. 

   “It’s not that E-Hall Pass is unnecessarily an inherently bad thing,” said Hafiz.

“They’re a great idea for some schools but in some schools like this, students try to take too long to show you the past and claim that it’s loading or claim that it’s malfunctioning. Whereas a paper pass, it’s pen to paper and there’s very little opportunity for them to mess that up.”  

   Cell phones were used in the classroom for various reasons, including educational purposes. Several problems were when students texted others, got on social media and were distracted in class. The student response to the cell phone guidelines have been mixed.    

   Junior Logan Bigelow believes that the cell phone policies will be better for learning.  

   “Last year I was very distracted by my phone and I’m guessing a lot of kids were too,” Bigelow said.  

   Senior Mark Lovett believes improvements should be made to the cell phone policy. 

   “They had a good idea, but it wasn’t really executed well,” says Lovett. “I think we should be allowed to have our phones when we have free time, like if there’s a flex period, we should be able to have our phones then or if like someone is to finish their work early with all the work they have in class.” 

   Bigelow agreed that improvements should be made.  

   “I think we should be allowed to listen to music if you’re doing like individual work time,” Bigelow said. ”When the teacher’s talking, take the Airpod out.” 

   English Teacher Angelica Bland says that the new change has been good for students and that the transition has gone smoothly.  

   “My students are talking more, they’re engaging more and I feel like our classroom environment got more comfortable,” said Bland. “When students are more comfortable with each other, it makes it easier for them to take risks while they’re learning.”