Executive Order decreeing "cell-phone free" education in k-12

[Anonymous]

Long time HS teacher here and this is how it’s going to play out with older kids. There will be meetings during the teacher workdays and we will need to have something in the syllabus. Admin will put together some unrealistic protocol, like we need to keep track of infractions ourself, give a certain number of warnings, on the whatever time email/call parents, then on the next time write a referral. Some teachers will stress over this and have complicated spreadsheets, write referrals only to find out no discipline happens.

Nothing will change in my class. I’ve always had a cell away rule. It’s usually not an issue. I will contact parents if they are ever cheating on a test or being disruptive. I will not if I see them send a quick text. No one has time for that and most of the time, the parents are texting their own kids.

[Anonymous]

I did not vote for Youngkin, but this policy seems sensible and the FCPS SB is pushing a wildly unpopular agenda with this redistricting thing.

I would vote for Youngkin if I had it to do over again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://virginiamercury.com/2024/07/09/youngkin-signs-executive-order-to-establish-cell-phone-free-education-in-va-public-schools/

I'm no fan of the governor, but I think this could be a good thing. I am curious how it will be implemented at the higher grades.

I am a big fan of the gov.

+1
Me too, and this just cements my approval of him. Thank you, Gov. Youngkin! Finally, some common sense in VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that the goal, of eliminating cell phone use in the school day, is an admirable one. I would like to think it's something both parties could agree on.

But at this point, it sounds like it comes with no directions about how to achieve it, no resources to support it, etc . . .

What will be the definition of phone free? Cell phones in backpacks? Cell phones in lockers? Cell phones collected class by class? Kids are responsible for keeping cell phones out of sight?

What will be the enforcement?

How will keep kids from just transferring their social media to chromebooks or iPads or whatever they are using, and still accessing it in the classroom?

I think until that's all hashed out, it's just a good idea.

Did you even read the article? They are going to hash out the exact details and they have $500,000 to implement it.

The governor added that $500,000 in existing funds allocated to the Departments of Education and Behavioral Health and Development Services will be made available to implement the initiative.

According to the governor’s office, the funds will support state and local efforts to facilitate family nights and community engagement events to combat youth mental health challenges, and provide microgrants for school divisions to help implement cell phone best practices in their communities.

As part of the policies’ development, the departments will be required to hold listening sessions seeking public input on “age-appropriate cell phone-free education policies and procedures, gather feedback on best practices currently underway in Virginia public schools, and receive input for the draft guidance,” the governor’s executive order reads.

The departments are slated to release the final guidance by Sept. 16 of this year. The order directs school boards to adopt the policies by Jan. 1, 2025, or before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would love to see added to this EO that Virginia schools allow no more thank 30 minutes of computer time for early childhood classes (K-2) per week, no more than 1 hour of computer time for 3rd and 4th grade per week and no more than 30 minutes of computer time per day for 5th and 6th grade.

One of the worst things to come out of pandemic school is the over reliance of 1:1 laptops in elementary school. We know without a doubt that daily screen time is very bad for children's development.

Get back to traditional teaching/shared class carts and ditch the reliance on 1:1 laptops for most of elementary school.

+ a million

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So... no realistic recommendations on how this is going to get enforced? Youngkin... all glitz, zero substance.

I'm sorry you are unable to read and/or are just truly stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that the goal, of eliminating cell phone use in the school day, is an admirable one. I would like to think it's something both parties could agree on.

But at this point, it sounds like it comes with no directions about how to achieve it, no resources to support it, etc . . .

What will be the definition of phone free? Cell phones in backpacks? Cell phones in lockers? Cell phones collected class by class? Kids are responsible for keeping cell phones out of sight?

What will be the enforcement?

How will keep kids from just transferring their social media to chromebooks or iPads or whatever they are using, and still accessing it in the classroom?

I think until that's all hashed out, it's just a good idea.

Did you even read the article? They are going to hash out the exact details and they have $500,000 to implement it.

The governor added that $500,000 in existing funds allocated to the Departments of Education and Behavioral Health and Development Services will be made available to implement the initiative.

According to the governor’s office, the funds will support state and local efforts to facilitate family nights and community engagement events to combat youth mental health challenges, and provide microgrants for school divisions to help implement cell phone best practices in their communities.

As part of the policies’ development, the departments will be required to hold listening sessions seeking public input on “age-appropriate cell phone-free education policies and procedures, gather feedback on best practices currently underway in Virginia public schools, and receive input for the draft guidance,” the governor’s executive order reads.

The departments are slated to release the final guidance by Sept. 16 of this year. The order directs school boards to adopt the policies by Jan. 1, 2025, or before.

$500,000 for the entire Commonwealth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that the goal, of eliminating cell phone use in the school day, is an admirable one. I would like to think it's something both parties could agree on.

But at this point, it sounds like it comes with no directions about how to achieve it, no resources to support it, etc . . .

What will be the definition of phone free? Cell phones in backpacks? Cell phones in lockers? Cell phones collected class by class? Kids are responsible for keeping cell phones out of sight?

What will be the enforcement?

How will keep kids from just transferring their social media to chromebooks or iPads or whatever they are using, and still accessing it in the classroom?

I think until that's all hashed out, it's just a good idea.

Did you even read the article? They are going to hash out the exact details and they have $500,000 to implement it.

The governor added that $500,000 in existing funds allocated to the Departments of Education and Behavioral Health and Development Services will be made available to implement the initiative.

According to the governor’s office, the funds will support state and local efforts to facilitate family nights and community engagement events to combat youth mental health challenges, and provide microgrants for school divisions to help implement cell phone best practices in their communities.

As part of the policies’ development, the departments will be required to hold listening sessions seeking public input on “age-appropriate cell phone-free education policies and procedures, gather feedback on best practices currently underway in Virginia public schools, and receive input for the draft guidance,” the governor’s executive order reads.

The departments are slated to release the final guidance by Sept. 16 of this year. The order directs school boards to adopt the policies by Jan. 1, 2025, or before.

$500,000 for the entire Commonwealth?

Exactly how much do you think it should cost to tell kids no cell phones during the school day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that the goal, of eliminating cell phone use in the school day, is an admirable one. I would like to think it's something both parties could agree on.

But at this point, it sounds like it comes with no directions about how to achieve it, no resources to support it, etc . . .

What will be the definition of phone free? Cell phones in backpacks? Cell phones in lockers? Cell phones collected class by class? Kids are responsible for keeping cell phones out of sight?

What will be the enforcement?

How will keep kids from just transferring their social media to chromebooks or iPads or whatever they are using, and still accessing it in the classroom?

I think until that's all hashed out, it's just a good idea.

Did you even read the article? They are going to hash out the exact details and they have $500,000 to implement it.

The governor added that $500,000 in existing funds allocated to the Departments of Education and Behavioral Health and Development Services will be made available to implement the initiative.

According to the governor’s office, the funds will support state and local efforts to facilitate family nights and community engagement events to combat youth mental health challenges, and provide microgrants for school divisions to help implement cell phone best practices in their communities.

As part of the policies’ development, the departments will be required to hold listening sessions seeking public input on “age-appropriate cell phone-free education policies and procedures, gather feedback on best practices currently underway in Virginia public schools, and receive input for the draft guidance,” the governor’s executive order reads.

The departments are slated to release the final guidance by Sept. 16 of this year. The order directs school boards to adopt the policies by Jan. 1, 2025, or before.

$500,000 for the entire Commonwealth?

Exactly how much do you think it should cost to tell kids no cell phones during the school day?

Absolutely this. Design a few “no cellphone in class” signs in Canva and for a few thousand in printing costs, done.

This is the first thing Youngkin has done that I actually support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://virginiamercury.com/2024/07/09/youngkin-signs-executive-order-to-establish-cell-phone-free-education-in-va-public-schools/

I'm no fan of the governor, but I think this could be a good thing. I am curious how it will be implemented at the higher grades.

I am a big fan of the gov.

+1
Me too, and this just cements my approval of him. Thank you, Gov. Youngkin! Finally, some common sense in VA.

FCPS already has this rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that the goal, of eliminating cell phone use in the school day, is an admirable one. I would like to think it's something both parties could agree on.

But at this point, it sounds like it comes with no directions about how to achieve it, no resources to support it, etc . . .

What will be the definition of phone free? Cell phones in backpacks? Cell phones in lockers? Cell phones collected class by class? Kids are responsible for keeping cell phones out of sight?

What will be the enforcement?

How will keep kids from just transferring their social media to chromebooks or iPads or whatever they are using, and still accessing it in the classroom?

I think until that's all hashed out, it's just a good idea.

Did you even read the article? They are going to hash out the exact details and they have $500,000 to implement it.

The governor added that $500,000 in existing funds allocated to the Departments of Education and Behavioral Health and Development Services will be made available to implement the initiative.

According to the governor’s office, the funds will support state and local efforts to facilitate family nights and community engagement events to combat youth mental health challenges, and provide microgrants for school divisions to help implement cell phone best practices in their communities.

As part of the policies’ development, the departments will be required to hold listening sessions seeking public input on “age-appropriate cell phone-free education policies and procedures, gather feedback on best practices currently underway in Virginia public schools, and receive input for the draft guidance,” the governor’s executive order reads.

The departments are slated to release the final guidance by Sept. 16 of this year. The order directs school boards to adopt the policies by Jan. 1, 2025, or before.

$500,000 for the entire Commonwealth?

Exactly how much do you think it should cost to tell kids no cell phones during the school day?

If the parents had them stayed home, it would be zero work for the teachers. They wouldn’t even have to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://virginiamercury.com/2024/07/09/youngkin-signs-executive-order-to-establish-cell-phone-free-education-in-va-public-schools/

I'm no fan of the governor, but I think this could be a good thing. I am curious how it will be implemented at the higher grades.

I am a big fan of the gov.

+1
Me too, and this just cements my approval of him. Thank you, Gov. Youngkin! Finally, some common sense in VA.

FCPS already has this rule.

Now it will be enforced rather than its current implementation.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad it's limited to "student" cell phone use. My phone is my watch during recess.

[Anonymous]

Not a ban, just guidance on how a school system may implement a ban if they want to. You're getting all worked up about something 100% performative.

[Anonymous]

Well my child's cell phone is also a medical device. Ugh.