Frederick County panel considers 'bell-to-bell' ban on student cellphones after teacher survey

The Student Conduct and Support Committee of Frederick County Public Schools reviewed staff survey results and disciplinary data on cellphone use at a Feb. work session and signaled support for tightening the division’s cellphone regulation to a bell-to-bell prohibition to take effect before the 2025–26 school year.

Committee staff presented the timeline and the differences between Governor Glenn Youngkin’s July 9, 2024, executive order and the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) Sept. 17, 2024, guidance. “For elementary and middle school levels our regulation is in step with the final guidance from VDOE,” said Miss Jordan, an FCPS staff member leading the briefing. She noted the primary difference at the high-school level: FCPS currently allows student access during lunch and between classes, while VDOE’s guidance recommends a bell-to-bell restriction.

The presentation summarized a teacher survey issued Jan. 10, 2025, and discipline tracking tied to the student code of conduct entry BSO 13. Staff reported 501 survey responses (476 identified as teachers and 18 as administrators; other respondent categories were not specified in the slides). On the survey, 60.1% of respondents said cellphone use in class is disruptive and 39.9% said it is not. Other results cited: 78.6% said the current regulation helps reduce disruption; 75.9% said it is easy to enforce; 80.4% said it protects instructional time; and 69.3% said a stricter prohibition (no phones out during the school day) would help resolve disruptive use. When asked about timing, 62.3% recommended implementation prior to the next school year and 30.7% preferred changes during the current year.

Staff also presented disciplinary-data trends. The office that tracks BSO 13 incidents reported a decrease in incidents for the current school year compared with 2023–24; staff characterized the reduction as about 67.2% for the period compared (August–January this year versus the full prior year). Miss Jordan said the division’s communication office pushed the regulation to families before the school year began, which staff said likely contributed to the reductions.

Committee members debated enforcement and timing. “If we eliminate cell phones entirely, then there’s no fight to be had,” said Mr. Atkins, a board member, arguing that a full ban would remove confrontations over confiscation. Mr. Bell, another committee member and an early proponent of a stricter rule, said his visits to schools show reduced visible device use since the regulation went into effect: “I’ve been in the schools and I’ve seen them doing it,” he said, while acknowledging some teachers still report inconsistent enforcement in buildings.

Members emphasized that enforcement consistency would be key if policy tightens. Staff described existing exceptions — medical needs (for example, students who monitor blood-sugar via phone), individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 accommodations, and administrator-authorized case-by-case exceptions — and said those would remain. Miss Jordan described the current regulation text for lower grades: “All portable communication devices, specifically cell phones, must be silent and put away during the day.” The presentation said put-away has been interpreted as “not out of sight,” allowing phones in pockets.

Committee discussion also covered legal and operational constraints. Staff told the committee that some jurisdictions have moved to prohibit phones even during lunch and transitions, and that the VDOE guidance allows local tailoring. Staff said the state listed no penalties for divisions that differ from VDOE guidance, and that FCPS had submitted its policy to the state as required. Staff noted it is illegal in Virginia to own or operate signal jammers and that the division cannot pursue that option to enforce silence.

On next steps, the committee chair summarized conversation points and staff said they would move forward to prepare amendments so the board could adopt a bell-to-bell regulation with an implementation date before the 2025–26 school year. Staff also said they would coordinate communications and follow-up materials for families and building administrators and continue tracking disciplinary data. No formal board vote changing the regulation was recorded in this session.

Ending: The meeting concluded after a brief procedural adjournment motion. Staff said narratives from the teacher survey are available to board members in the weekly packet for more granular context about enforcement challenges and classroom experiences.