Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia signed Executive Order 33 on Tuesday. This order directs state departments, including the Education Department, to create new guidelines for reducing cellphone use in schools by January next year.
“This essential action will promote a healthier and more focused educational environment where every child is free to learn,” said Governor Youngkin in a news release. He believes that creating cellphone and social media-free environments in Virginia’s K-12 schools will benefit students, parents, and educators.
A draft of the guidelines is expected by August 15, with the final version to be issued in September. The guidelines will restrict cellphone use in public schools from kindergarten to 12th grade. Some ideas being considered include the use of pouches or “phone lockers” for storing phones during school hours, with full implementation expected by 2025.
Governor Youngkin highlighted that kids spend an average of 5 hours on their phones and expressed concerns about the link between social media and mental health issues. This initiative follows the U.S. surgeon general’s call in June for social media warning labels similar to those on cigarettes.
Virginia’s Education Secretary, Aimee Guidera, emphasized that the government alone cannot solve this issue. According to a recent Pew Research Center report, 72% of U.S. high school teachers consider cellphone distraction a major problem in classrooms. Guidera stressed the importance of parents and teachers working together to limit screen time and foster healthy learning environments.
This action comes shortly after the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest in the country, voted to ban student smartphone use during school hours, including breaks and lunch. New York City’s Public Schools Chancellor, David Banks, hinted at a similar plan for New York’s public schools, noting that phones are a significant distraction and addiction issue.
Other states like Ohio, Florida, and Indiana have already passed similar laws, and several others, including New York, are considering restrictions. New York took steps in June to limit data collection by social media companies. Meanwhile, California lawmakers have introduced AB 3216, which would require school districts to limit or ban cellphone use by July 2026. Governor Gavin Newsom has called for a statewide ban on smartphone use in California schools.