Student Cell Phone Restrictions Approved For Fairfax County Schools

FAIRAX COUNTY, VA — Limits on student cell phone use during the school day were approved by the Fairfax County School Board last Thursday.

The cell phone policy was part of the Student Rights and Responsibilities policy, which undergoes a review process each year. The policy taking effect in the 2022-2023 school year says students in kindergarten through eighth grade must silence cell phones and put them away for the entire school day. Students in grades nine to 12 must only silence and put away cell phones during classes.

In addition, students cannot use cell phones, tablets or other mobile devices in bathrooms and locker rooms, except for emergencies and medical situations.

The vote followed discussion about the place of cell phones in schools. School board members who voted for the Students Rights and Responsibilities with the new cell phone policy were Ricardy Anderson, Melanie Meren, Elaine Tholen, Laura Jane Cohen, Karl Frisch, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Abrar Omeish and Karen Corbett Sanders. Opposed members included Megan McLaughlin, Tamara Derenak Kaufax, Rachna Sizemore Heizer and Stella Pekarsky.

An amendment to add seventh and eighth grades to the cell phone policy for grades nine to 12 failed. Members who supported the failed amendment were McLaughlin, Derenak Kaufax, Sizemore Heizer and Pekarsky.

The board did approve a motion to communicate the cell phone policy to parents and guardians of students with disabilities. The communication will include guidance on requesting an individualized education program or 504 meeting to discuss personal devices or other accommodations. Under the new cell phone policy, parents or guardians whose students need accommodations for personal devices are asked to make the request through their multi-disciplinary team.

The school board also directed the superintendent to provide a semi-annual discipline report by student sub-group on violations of the Student Rights and Responsibilities policy. The next report would be provided before the next Student Rights and Responsibilities approval for the 2023-2024 school year.