ARLINGTON, Va. — Pushback against cellphones in school continues to grow.
A few weeks ago, Fairfax County Public Schools began the process of exploring cellphone restrictions during the school day. Other Northern Virginia school districts have followed suit.
In Arlington, a group of parents want the county to adopt a policy immediately.
If you find your cellphone distracting, just imagine being a middle schooler like Amy Rzepka’s child.
“Navigating personal devices with my child has been an incredibly challenging and at times difficult experience,” she told WUSA9.
Rzepka is not alone, we’ve heard from parents across Northern Virginia. Many say cellphones in schools makes learning difficult for students.
“Arlington Parents for Education, which is the organization I am a part of, is advocating that those devices don’t belong in the classroom,” she said.
The problem in Arlington is there is no standard – it varies from classroom to classroom and even school to school.
“Those cannot be enforced because they are not at the school board level,” Rzepka said.
Arlington Parents for Education sent a letter to the Arlington School Board this week. It demands the county immediately adopt a uniform cellphone policy: 'Away for the Day.'”
“Not having a policy in place then enacting one in the middle of the school year is simply too long,” she said.
Arlington County School officials said the district is reviewing data from pilot programs before moving on policies.
In the meantime, Stafford County Public Schools and Fredericksburg City Schools recently banned the use of cellphones by students during the school day.
Loudoun County and Fairfax County are exploring policies to do something similar.
WUSA9 reached out to the Arlington County Public Schools for comments but they did not respond.
A push for cellphone bans in schools sweeping the commonwealth.