Virginia governor issues executive order that will limit or ban cell phone use in schools

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued a new executive order Tuesday that will limit or ban cell phone use in public schools – the latest in a string of efforts by officials to crack down on what many see as a classroom distraction and a threat to students’ mental health.

The order by Youngkin, a Republican, directs the Virginia Department of Education to establish guidelines for a cell phone-free education, the governor’s office said in a news release. The new policies are to be implemented in schools by January 1, 2025, with a draft of guidelines expected by August 15 and final guidance issued in September.

Youngkin called the order an “essential action” that would “promote a healthier and more focused educational environment” for the more than 1.2 million students served by the Virginia Department of Education as of the 2023-2024 academic year.