Loudoun County Schools will unveil new cellphone policy next school year

LEESBURG, Va. — While we enter the heart of summer, school isn’t far off. And when students come back to class in Loudoun County, they will have a new cellphone policy.

The access students in Loudoun will have to their cellphones during the school day depends on their grade level.

While you may expect students to have strong reactions, it's the parents who are speaking out the loudest. 

“Every job I’ve ever had, you’re not allowed to be on your phone when someone is presenting,” Loudoun County parent Carol Noah said.

“Our youngest, who is a freshman, is obviously against it,” added parent John Kessler. 

Kessler explained while the school board debated a policy, he and his daughter had a debate of their own.

“She will complete an assignment and there is time left and she doesn’t understand why she can’t use her phone,” he said.

When he asked what he thought, Kessler laughed. 

 “I’m old-- of course I don’t think they should have phones in class,” he said. 

This summer, the debate in Loudoun County ended.

“A one-size-fits-all [policy] wasn’t really gonna work,” LCPS District spokesperson Dan Adams said.

 In June, the school board approved an all-district cellphone policy, using a graduated system. It starts with no cellphones for elementary students. By middle school, students can access their phone before and after school. High school students will get the most, but still restricted, access.

“They’ll be able to have it between classes or lunchtime,” Adams said. “They can check messages, check in with mom and dad, then.”

Kessler said he likes the cellphone strategy, but has some questions.

“I understand what the policy is, but what is the enforcement? What’s the next step?” he asked.

Adams said that is still being worked out. 

“We want to make sure we are not focusing on it as a punishment," he added. 

Adams said more information will be going out to parents in the coming weeks.

As Loudoun County becomes one of the first Northern Virginia school districts to act on cell phones, Kessler said it’s just the reality of education in the 21st century.

“Somehow we all survived without it,” he mused. “But it’s a new world and sometimes we have to adapt.”

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