A Message From Superintendent Dr. Wayne Lyle Regarding PGCPS' Commitment to Distraction-Free Learning Environments for Students

November 13, 2024

Good afternoon Prince George Families, 

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to update you on our ongoing efforts to provide distraction-free learning environments in our schools following our student cell phone policy presentation last month to the Prince George County School Board.

On November 12, 2024, the Prince George County School Board adopted our personal communications device policy, which was created in line with the Virginia Department of Education's (VDOE) final guidance regarding student cell phone use in school settings. While the now-approved policy will be in place by January 1, 2025, districts and schools can begin preparing for the policy's implementation before this date.

As we shared in October, this policy states students are prohibited from using personal communications devices, including cell phones, during instructional time or in instructional settings, which comprises places such as a classroom, auditorium, gymnasium, and any location where a school staff member is providing instruction or related activities.

  • Elementary school students are prohibited from using personal technology during the day.
  • Middle and high school students must keep their devices silent and not visible and store them in their backpacks or another phone storage location away from students during the school day, including during lunch and transition time between classes. These students may be able to use their devices before or after the school day concludes as permitted by the school's administrators. 

We remain committed to ensuring students have what they need to support their learning and medical needs, and through this policy, pathways are available for families of students who may need personal technology as part of their child's documented Section 504 plans, Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and individualized healthcare plans.

Finally, as we prepare to implement this policy as we approach the end of the year, we continue to understand that being able to contact your child during an emergency is essential, along with transparency during an emergency response. School staff will continue to have access to communications during instructional time and can contact the school office in an emergency. Further, students who access stored personal communications to make calls for assistance will not be penalized during a school emergency. Our division will provide regular communications through our electronic mass communication systems.

In the meantime, we invite you to review the policy, along with an informative, frequently asked questions page on our website, to address some common questions. As questions come in that may not be on this page, we will look to answer them and update this page. 

Finally, over the coming weeks, our secondary schools, J.E.J. Moore Middle School, N.B. Clements Junior High School, and Prince George High School, will adjust their current cell phone policy to begin preparing students for the newly adopted policy's implementation at the start of 2025. We understand this policy is a change for our secondary students, particularly the end of phone use during lunch and class transition times. Our school staff and administrators will work with students to help them know what is expected of them regarding their device use during the school day, including signage and positive messaging in our schools, in the lead-up to this policy's start date.

We thank our board for supporting us as we create a policy in line with VDOE guidance that supports our students by providing reduced distractions during the school day, ensuring our students who need assistive technology receive those resources, and that families can reach their children in emergencies and non-emergency instances. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Wayne Lyle
Superintendent
Prince George County Public Schools