Quick Facts:
- Students are prohibited from using
any mobile device (cell phones, smart watches, and headphones, including ear buds) during the instructional day. This includes class changes and lunches. The full policy can be found online (
Elementary |
Secondary).
- Failure to follow these requirements will result in disciplinary action and the item(s) will be confiscated, requiring a parent/guardian to pick up their student’s device from school.
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Parents/guardians are an important part of the success of this updated policy, which was made to support our students’ academic environment and mental health. Please review the policy with your student(s) in advance of the school year.
All HCPS back-to-school messages can be found
on the HCPS website.
Full Message/Details:
Dear Families,
We hope you are well. We are writing today with important information regarding the mobile device policy for the 2024-25 school year.
As a school division, we take great pride in being leaders in Virginia in offering our students with access to the highest quality learning experiences and in supporting their social, physical, and emotional needs. Research has consistently shown that mobile device use during the school day is a significant distraction and leads to decreased attention for students, adversely affecting their learning, growth, and mental health.
Accordingly, in the interest of student mental health and well-being and building on our school division’s longstanding tradition of providing engaging and impactful learning opportunities and environments for our students, the Hanover County School Board recently approved changes to our Code of Student Conduct, including the policy for mobile devices (cell phones, smart watches, and headphones/earbuds).
Please note the following:
- Students are prohibited from using
any mobile device (cell phones, smart watches, and headphones, including ear buds) during the instructional day. This includes class changes and lunches. Please note that wired headphones that are connected to a student’s school-provided Chromebook or iPad under the direction of the teacher are permissible.
- All mobile devices must be powered off and out of sight beginning when a student enters the building and continuing throughout the school day. This does not end until the dismissal bell rings.
- Failure to follow these requirements will result in disciplinary action and the item(s) will be confiscated. Devices must be picked up by a parent/guardian during the school’s office hours.
- The changes to this policy as well as the associated disciplinary actions can be found in the red-lined version
on BoardDocs. The final policy can also be found online (
Elementary |
Secondary). Additionally, the full Code of Student Conduct can be found
on the HCPS website.
- Accommodations may be considered for students with identified disabilities that require a personal electronic device for medical assistance or should the student require one as determined by the student's Individualized Education program (IEP) or 504 team. Please reach out to your school for more information.
We recognize that this is a significant change. Simply put,
this policy is intended to prioritize our students’ education and their mental health. It helps to ensure that they have the best possible environment to learn and grow. According to the American Psychological Association, teens are spending an average of 4.8 hours per day on seven popular social media sites, and research
cited by the Virginia Department of Education indicates that spending more than three hours per day on social media doubles the risk of poor mental health for adolescents.
We are proud to be leaders in this area and to help set the example for the rest of Virginia as school divisions across the Commonwealth work to implement similar practices. The Governor’s Executive Order in this regard can be found
on the Virginia Department of Education’s website.
As parents and guardians, you are an integral partner in our efforts in making this policy successful, helping our students to thrive both academically and socially. We ask that you assist us by discussing this topic with your student. Please remind them that their mobile devices are to be turned off and stored out of sight for the duration of the school day. You may also want to consider having your child leave their mobile device(s) at home, if possible.
As always, families can contact their student by contacting the main office of the school. Our schools will continue to share relevant and timely information pertaining to schedule changes, school updates, and more via our normal communication channels (school announcements, ParentSquare, and Schoology at the secondary level).
This new policy underscores our commitment to providing engaging learning environments in which students are present and attentive. We greatly appreciate your partnership in emphasizing this message, including the potential consequences, with your student and for your broader support of our commitment to high-quality learning environments.
We truly believe that by working together, we can make a significant impact on our students’ academic experience and their overall well-being.
Thank you.
Hanover County Public Schools