Today, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell announced that the members of the Senate Democratic Workgroup on School Mobile Phone Policy have introduced legislation to enhance distraction-free learning environments for Virginia students. Senate Democrats have a strong commitment to prioritizing student success in Virginia and share the Governor’s aspiration to limit distractions in the classroom. This is best and actually accomplished through bipartisan collaboration within the legislative process, through which Senate Democrats aim to give elected school boards the ability to craft the best cell phone policies for their districts consistent with state and federal law and existing educational governance process which is not governed by Executive Orders.
In contrast to the Governor’s policy, this legislation includes the following:
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Specifically prioritizes SPED students, IEP, or 504 plans and includes protections for students who use their devices for accommodations for which cell phone usage is necessary.
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Clarifies that no violation of these policies alone shall constitute suspension or expulsion of a student, and ensures enforcement does not result in expulsion that leads to a loss of academic time that would defeat the purpose of cell phone free classroom learning.
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Ensures the responsibility of enforcement is on the administration, not teachers who are already overburdened in the classroom.
This legislation certifies that classrooms can be distraction-free while maintaining student safety and family communication.
“While we applaud Governor Youngkin prioritizing a dialogue on school mobile phone use by providing non-binding recommendations to Virginia’s school system, but Virginia’s Constitution does not give the Governor control over Virginia schools and his Executive Order is as effective as sending a letter to each school system,” said Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell. “If Governor Youngkin wants to make truly binding and effective education policy, it requires the collaboration and involvement of the General Assembly, the Virginia Board of Education and each local school board which is constitutionally vested with the power to run their local systems. We look forward to working with Governor Youngkin on creating an actual statewide mobile phone policy instead of governing by press release.”
“I am proud to continue working with my colleagues to advocate for our students, teachers, and families. As the former School Board Chair of the largest school division in the Commonwealth, I understand it is imperative that we strike the right balance through legislative action. Giving school boards, localities, and communities the tools to implement these policies to ensure their needs are met is the common sense way to accomplish distraction free education for all” said Senator Stella Pekarsky.
As a former educator herself, Senator Ghazala Hashmi, Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee stated, “We have ample research that demonstrates the ways in which devices such as cell phones not only distract from focus, but actually impede learning, limit retention of information, impair brain development in very young children, and can cause harm to mental health. A cell phone-free learning environment improves learning, social skills, concentration, and the general health of the classroom. Our legislation provides assurances for students, parents, and educators that special concerns are protected while the distractions of mobile phones are limited.”
The summary and text of Senate Bill 738, patroned by Senator Pekarsky and Senator Hashmi and co-patroned by Senator VanValkenburg has been posted online.