Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has recently implemented a new phone policy. They have stated on their website that the reason why they are cracking down on phones in the classroom is because it causes many distractions and FCPS uses “studies [to] show that students who use their cell phones during instructional time focus less, learn less, and achieve lower grades.”

FCPS is conducting a study with their new “cell phone storage pilot program” to try to limit phone usage with students by having control and experimental groups. 

The control groups will have a less strict phone policy with all phones and airpods only required to be in backpacks throughout the entire class. Cell phones and airpods are still only to be used before and after school, during lunch, and during passing periods.

The experimental groups will be required to put their phones in Yondr cell phone pouches, which lock when entering the classroom. Students will be responsible for their pouches since they are required to take them home and bring them to school everyday. 

The pouches will also be with the students throughout the entire school day. They will be unlocked with a “unlocking base” when class is dismissed, allowing students to use their phones in between classes and during lunch.

These are the participating schools that are apart of the experimental groups and will use the Yondr cell phone pouches: Frost Middle School, Irving Middle School, Jackson Middle School, Poe Middle School, Robinson Middle School, Thoreau Middle School, Twain Middle School, Edison High School, Falls Church High School, Justice High School, Lewis High School, Madison High School, McLean High School, Robinson High School, and Westfield High School.

FCPS is not the only school taking extreme measures against phones in the classroom this year. This comes after Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin announced an executive order which encourages “cell-phone free classrooms”. The executive order which was published this July, takes effect by January 2025. 

This executive order pushed FCPS to take action against phone usage this school year. Other school districts such as Loudoun, Alexandria, Prince William, and Fredericksburg County Public Schools have taken their own approach to this issue and have started cracking down on phones which will be required by law starting January 2025.