“As we start our day together, please remember that Virginia law and FCPS policy mandate all cellphones and accessories be off and away for the day.” After the morning announcements, students rush to put their phones in their backpacks. 

Although the current state policy already discourages phone use during lunch, in high schools, FCPS currently only bans cell phones and other personal devices, such as AirPods and smartwatches, during passing periods and classes, allowing them during lunch. However, following the signing of Senate Bill 108 by Governor Abigail Spanberger on April 6, cell phones will be prohibited bell-to-bell for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. 

“I understand why they are implementing a stricter cell phone policy because I currently still see a lot of people on their phones throughout the day,” senior Hee Theng Chong said. “But I don’t think this will solve the problem because the Senate bill doesn’t consider personal devices, like iPhone mirroring functions on MacBooks.” 

Not only do students notice their peers breaking rules, but teachers do as well. Social studies teacher Andrew Tramel has also noticed growing resistance toward the cell ban this year.

“If you asked them to put it away in the beginning of the year, they listened, but in the middle of the year, we started to see some resistance and the pushbacks just kept growing,” Tramel said. “As the year went along, students kind of got tired of following the rule and started to resist and stop following the rule, and phones have returned as a problem in many classes.”

From his experience with his children and students, Tramel supports the General Assembly’s new cell phone policy. In fact, according to Pew Research Center, 72% of teachers say cell phones are a major distraction in classrooms. However, how FCPS will update its cell phone policy to adhere to Senate Bill 108 is to be decided over the summer.

“ I found the only way I can truly restrict my own kids is just to literally take it away,” Tramel said. “But I think loopholes will continue to persist, and kids will find a workaround with burner phones and personal devices.”