What Virginians Told Us

Involving Virginians across the Commonwealth in the development of Cell Phone-Free education for their children’s schools, the Virginia Department of Education received nearly 6000 public comments and feedback during engagements, including 21 stakeholder convenings and public Commonwealth Conversations with over 1,160 Virginians.

And Virginians’ input from all regions of the Commonwealth was consistent and clear. 

• They asked to remove cell phones and personal electronic communication devices from our children’s public schools “bell-to-bell” during the school day at all levels- elementary, middle, and high school. 
• They want to make sure that students with documented medical issues that use cell phones to monitor their conditions have access to them when they need it. 
• They believe it is important that parents should be able to know and receive information about their child’s well-being in cases of school-based and family-based emergencies. 
• They do not want classroom teachers to have to constantly police their students for cell phones and personal electronic communication devices. They want to make sure teachers have support and are not looked to be the sole enforcers of their school’s cell phone policies. 
• They want to make sure that parents understand the negative effects surrounding children and cell phones, and they want parents and caring adults in the community (e.g. pastors, coaches, etc.) to help share in the efforts to keep their kids safe from the mental health issues that come from their child’s overuse of cell phones and social media.