Youngkin calls for public schools to restrict cellphones

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) signed an executive order Tuesday calling for Virginia’s public schools to restrict or eliminate cellphone use in class, citing poor youth mental health associated with social media use.

The order directs the Virginia Department of Education to develop guidance for school districts to implement a “cell phone-free” environment while keeping protocols in place for children to be able to contact their parents during an emergency situation.

“This essential action will promote a healthier and more focused educational environment where every child is free to learn. Creating cell phone and social media-free educational environments in Virginia’s K-12 education system will benefit students, parents, and educators,” Youngkin said in a statement. “Today’s Executive Order both establishes the clear goal to protect the health and safety of our students by limiting the amount of time they are exposed to addictive cell phones and social media and eliminates clear distractions in the classroom. It also kicks off the robust conversations among parents, students, teachers, and school and community leaders necessary to design and implement these policies and procedures at the local level.”

The directive does not ban cellphones in class, and it has the stated purpose of limiting children’s phone time “without parental supervision.” It comes after Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for cellphone-free schools last month and as the academic achievement gap widens for many students.

Youngkin’s order cites Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics showing a 167% spike in suicide for girls since 2010 and a 91% spike for boys. Depression has also skyrocketed in the same time period, increasing for girls 145% and for boys 161%.

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By Aug. 15, the Virginia Department of Education will be required to define what a “cell phone-free” school means and publish model policies and guidance for districts to implement them. Those will be subject to public input to inform “age-appropriate cell phone-free education policies and procedures, gather feedback on best practices currently underway in Virginia public schools, and receive input for the draft guidance,” the order stated.

Final guidance is expected Sept. 16, and implementation by school districts is expected by Jan. 1.