Gov. Youngkin enacts executive order for public schools to restrict cell phone use

Governor Glenn Youngkin passed Executive Order 33 July 9, which will instruct the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to establish policies restricting cell phone use in Virginia K-12 public schools by January 2025.

The purpose of this order is “to protect the health and safety of students in Virginia K-12 public schools” through the reduction of cell phone use during school hours, according to the EO. The Governor’s order will involve a collaborative effort between the VDOE and the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services (DBDHS). According to a press release from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the VDOE and DBDHS will allot $500,000 “from existing funds” to aid in drafting the policies and procedures necessary for the EO to be established in Virginia school districts.

“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. “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.”

Youngkin hopes that drafting “cell-phone-free” policies in public schools will help to mitigate the rising number of adolescents suffering from depression and suicide. The American Psychological Association discovered that adolescents spend an average of 4.8 hours a day on social media and “suicidal intent or self-harm” were prominent factors among those who admitted they use social media for more than 5 hours. According to a report from 2019-2021, the U.S. Department for Disease Control and Prevention found that “the rate of suicide has increased 167% since 2010 for girls and 91% for boys.”

While the rates of suicide and depression have risen in previous years, academic achievement scores for the state have plummeted. Scores from the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) have not risen since 2012, according to data from the EO. Since cell phone use has caused an educational regression among many students as well as posed as a distraction in the classroom, proponents of the executive order believe that moving away from social media will help students grow in their academics.

“The data is clear, and it is time for Virginians to come together to address the damage of social media and screens to healthy childhoods. Government cannot be the sole solution to this crisis; school communities – especially parents and teachers – must work together to discuss and develop common sense approaches to limit screen time, prioritize open channels of communication, and re-establish norms that reinforce healthy and vibrant learning communities,” Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera said.

The VDOE will begin creating the first round of drafts for this order on August 15. After the drafts have been reviewed, the executive order will direct the VDOE to present the new procedures to Virginia public schools. Local school districts within the state will need to follow the VDOE’s guidance by January 1, 2025, according to a press release by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

“Cell phones and digital media have caused pre-teens and teens to disconnect from the real world, have increased mental health challenges, and have caused significant disruption in the important daily learning opportunities in their classrooms,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons said.

There will be Commonwealth Conversations across the state to facilitate discourse surrounding the effects of digital media on adolescents and how schools can encourage moving away from social media use. According to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s press release, the Department of Education will facilitate meetings “over the next six weeks to solicit public input on this policy” to encourage members of the community to collaborate and join forces in this new statewide effort.