News from the South - Virginia News Feed
General Assembly passes bill giving schools more say on classroom phone rules
General Assembly passes bill giving schools more say on classroom phone rules
by Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury
February 24, 2025
Virginia school boards may soon have more control over how cell phones and smart devices are governed in classrooms. Legislation granting local districts the authority to craft their own policies cleared the General Assembly on Friday and now heads to Gov. Glenn Youngkin for consideration.
House Bill 1961, introduced by Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, and it’s companion measure, Senate Bill 738 by Sen. Stella Pekarsky, D-Fairfax, comes amid growing concerns over the impact of smartphones on children’s health. While research has linked excessive phone use to adverse effects on students’ well-being, advocates also recognize the role devices play in providing educational resources and communication tools.
Last year, a similar measure aimed at allowing school boards to ban phones and other “handheld communication devices” during school hours failed to pass. However, many schools had already implemented their own restrictions.
Unlike Yougkin’s existing guidelines, Rasoul emphasized that his proposal provides more local flexibility and ensures age-appropriate policies across different schools. It also includes critical exceptions for students with disabilities who rely on electronic devices for communication.
Importantly, Rasoul said the legislation prevents harsh disciplinary measures, ensuring that violating a school’s phone policy alone wouldn’t lead to suspension or expulsion.
“We just wanted to ensure that this new cell phone policy wasn’t weaponized against the students and that would lead to suspension and expulsion,” Rasoul said. “While the student can be pulled from the classroom, of course, if they’re acting up, we want to ensure that we are not utilizing this new policy in a way that, in and of itself, just by violating the policy would lead to expelling a student.”
Last summer, Youngkin signed Executive Order 33, directing his administration to implement cell phone-free policies amid rising concerns over children’s mental health and declining academic performance.
Citing research by the American Psychological Association, the order highlights that adolescents who spend more than three hours daily on social media daily are twice as likely to experience poor mental health. It also references studies showing that children spend an average of 4.8 hours a day on social media and that students who use their phones during class learn less and earn lower grades.
Under the guidelines, which took effect on Jan. 1, elementary, middle, and high school students are required to be phone-free during the entire school day, with middle and high schoolers permitted to use their phones only before or after school.
Local school divisions have the flexibility to tailor specific rules to their district’s needs. The policy also includes exemptions for students with disabilities and English Learner students with documented language barriers.
During a Senate Education and Health subcommittee hearing last month, Pekarsky said that the response to Youngkin’s order was “successful” and “positive.” However, she stressed the need to formally establish these policies in state law to ensure consistency and local control.
“We just need to codify this to make sure that everyone knows that you have to have a policy, you have to talk with your community [and] discuss what policy works for you,” Pekarsky said.
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Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.
The post General Assembly passes bill giving schools more say on classroom phone rules appeared first on virginiamercury.com
News from the South - Virginia News Feed
Health survey seeks to improve Western Tidewater community care
SUMMARY: The Western Tidewater Health District will soon conduct a confidential community health survey door-to-door in Franklin, Suffolk, Isle of Wight, and Southampton. Health workers aim to hear residents’ voices to better understand local health challenges, risky behaviors, and service needs. According to Dylan Evans, a local health emergency coordinator, this HIPAA-compliant survey will identify key health disparities and improve prevention, education, and harm reduction efforts. Scheduled for July 8th and 10th, the survey seeks real input beyond data to enhance community care. Every response helps shape healthcare services, promoting a healthier Western Tidewater community.
Local health workers in Western Tidewater will survey residents on July 8th and 10th to assess community health needs.
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News from the South - Virginia News Feed
Tuesday forecast: First Alert Weather day
SUMMARY: Tuesday brings a First Alert Weather day with a rising chance of thunderstorms developing late afternoon. Morning and midday rain chances are minimal, especially for the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, where rain arrives late. Storms start near Albermarle, Nelson, and surrounding counties around 4-5 PM, moving into Richmond by 6 PM. These slow-moving storms could produce hours of showers and thunder. By midnight, storms taper off with lingering clouds and showers overnight. Wednesday features morning and midday rain with highs near 83°F, then clearing by afternoon. Thursday warms to 91°F with a slight shower chance. Friday offers the best day—lower humidity and pleasant Fourth of July weather.
Tuesday is a First Alert Weather day as an approaching cold front could spark strong to severe storms in the evening.
News from the South - Virginia News Feed
Virginia voters cast ballots in 11th district primary | NBC4 Washington
SUMMARY: In Northern Virginia, thousands of voters participated in a rare late June primary for Virginia’s 11th congressional district, left open after Democrat Gerry Connolly’s recent passing. Democrats voted at 17 locations using firehouse primaries, with about 30,000 ballots cast so far. They choose among ten candidates, including Connolly’s endorsed former chief of staff, James Walkinshaw, and state Senator Stella Piekarski. Republicans voted at a single location, selecting from seven candidates aiming to strongly support Donald Trump’s policy agenda. GOP voting ended at 4 p.m., with results expected soon; Democrats vote until 7 p.m., possibly delaying final results until early morning.
Voters in Virginia’s 11th district head to the ballot box for a primary to fill the seat previously held by Gerry Connolly, who died of cancer in May. News4’s Julie Carey reports.
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