The Prince William County School Board will vote December 4 on a new policy aimed at limiting cell phone usage in schools to improve student focus, enhance engagement, and boost academic success. The policy builds on a pilot program implemented in 33 PWCS schools during the 2024-25 school year and aligns with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 33 (EO33), which encourages cell phone-free education in public schools.

The proposed cell phone policy aims to create an environment in which students can focus on learning without the distractions of personal electronic devices. Key objectives include:

  • Boosting student engagement and classroom participation.
  • Encouraging face-to-face interactions to foster interpersonal skills.
  • Minimizing interruptions to the learning process for better academic outcomes.
  • Promoting responsible digital citizenship among students.

Research indicates that even brief interactions with cell phones can disrupt focus, with students taking up to 10 minutes to reengage after being distracted.

During televised meetings held on November 6 and November 19, school division officials shared information on three options for implementing the policy, each with varying levels of limitations. The options include:

Option 1: Effective beginning January 2025

  • Elementary Schools: Cell phones must be turned off and stored during school hours, including field trips, except on transportation.
  • Middle Schools: Devices are off and stored from the tardy to dismissal bell but may be used on buses or after school.
  • High Schools: Devices are silenced and stored during instructional times but permitted during lunch and hallway passing periods.

Option 2 (Bell to Bell): Effective beginning January 2025

  • Elementary Schools: Same rules as Option 1.
  • Middle and High Schools: Devices are off and stored for the entire school day, from tardy bell to dismissal including field trips, but may be used before and after school hours. 

Option 3 (Bell to Bell): Effective beginning August 2025

  • Elementary Schools: Same rules as Option 1 and Option 2.
  • Middle and High Schools: Devices are off and stored for the entire school day, from tardy bell to dismissal including field trips, but may be used before and after school hours.

During the televised meetings in November, a majority of School Board Members in discussion indicated support for a bell-to-bell option with devices off and away the entire school day at all levels. (Option 2 and Option 3)

The vote to adopt a policy on cell phone use will take place during the School Board meeting on Wednesday, December 4. The public meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Kelly Leadership Center located at 14715 Bristow Road, Manassas, Virginia.

Citizens may watch the School Board meeting online at PWCS-TV or by watching Comcast channel 18 or Verizon Fios channel 36.