Virginia Takes Action

Distraction Free Schools Virginia is part of a coalition of parents, educators, and school administrators united in calling for legislative action and policy changes to address the overuse of smartphones, social media, and School-Tech in New Jersey schools. It is a state team under the Distraction-Free Schools Policy Project, an initiative led by Becca Schmill Foundation and Smartphone Free Childhood U.S.

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Virginia passed a bell-to-bell phone-free bill in the summer of 2025, which was great news. Unfortunately, the bill falls short of our model policy, and the language provides latitude for some school divisions to interpret it so that local policy is not truly bell-to-bell (e.g., high school students with phones in the cafeteria). We’re in conversation with legislators to tighten up that language and details.

 

How Can You Help??

 

• Please sign our Letter of Support, which will be shared with our state legislators. Our advocates are busy reaching out to and meeting with state legislators to support our model legislation, and every signature added greatly supports their advocacy efforts. Our current model legislation includes: Social Media-Free Schools and Safe School Tech.

 

• Reach out to legislators to urge them to support legislation that tightens up language in cell phone policy, supports social media-free schools, and safe school tech. We have template materials to help people with this outreach. You can also indicate your interest in doing this work by signing our Letter of Support.

 

• Join our advocacy team by filling out the Letter of Support!

 

Please share our Letter of Support widely within your networks!