Dear LCPS Families, Staff and Students,
Last year, for the 2024-2025 school year, LCPS enacted a cell phone policy that ensured students could receive their instruction during school free from the distraction of cell phones. Your feedback was invaluable as we learned how the policy might impact families and staff, and the School Board updated Policy 8655 (Student Personal Device Use) to address cell phones in schools. We are asking for your feedback once again.
In April 2025, the General Assembly of Virginia adopted an amendment to Section 22.1-79.3:1 of the Code of Virginia to address student cell phone and smart device possession and use policies.
This new law provides further definitions pertaining to the use of devices in our schools and directs Virginia school boards to enact policies that provide additional or updated guidance for students and staff. Importantly, two definitions are provided:
“Bell to bell" means after the first bell rings at the start of the school day to begin instructional time until the dismissal bell rings at the end of the school day. "Bell to bell" includes lunch and time in between class periods.
This means students at all levels may not use their cell phones or other smart devices from the start of school until after school gets out.
"Smart device" means any personal electronic device that can connect to the Internet and wirelessly collect, process and transmit data, including smart watches and tablets.
This means that students who bring additional internet-connected devices to school - for example, a smart watch or fitness tracker, a tablet, their own PC or Mac (rather than using the school-issued Chromebook) - would not be allowed to use them during school hours, or from “bell to bell” as defined in the Code.
There are exceptions for students with an Individualized Education Plan, Section 504 Plan, individualized health care plan, or Limited English Proficiency plan, that would allow them to possess and use a cell phone or smart device bell to bell, including in the classroom, to monitor or address a health concern or as an accommodation or assistive technology support.
We know many students bring personal technology to school with the intention of using devices for educational purposes, and this change may have potential impacts on available digital tools or preferences, productivity, visibility to your students’ location, and more.
We are asking for your feedback on potential positive and negative impacts, so we can address any gaps and unintended consequences due to aligning LCPS policies with the new state law.
Please provide your feedback by participating in this ThoughtExchange.
Thank you in advance for helping us make schools places of learning, safety and belonging.
Sincerely,
Aaron Spence, Ed.D.
Superintendent