Archive:LCPS Policy 8655: Difference between revisions

{{Afd-merge to|Loudoun County Public Schools|discussion=LCPS Policy 8655|date=23 October 2026}}

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'''LCPS Policy 8655''' is a [[Education policy|policy]] created by the [[Loudoun County, Virginia|Loudoun County]] School Board restricting student [[Mobile device|personal technology]] usage. This policy, in its original form, was passed on June 25, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BoardDocs® Policy: 8655 Student Personal Device Use |url=https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/loudoun/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D6MGYN461D01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250913220326/https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/loudoun/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D6MGYN461D01 |archive-date=2025-09-13 |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=go.boarddocs.com |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Following Virginia's passage of Virginia Code § 22.1-79.3:1 in April 2025, which restricts student use of personal technology in all grades during the school day, the School Board passed an updated and more restrictive version of Policy 8655 on December 16, 2025. The updated version of this policy was implemented in all Loudoun County Public Schools on January 5, 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Policy 8655: Student Personal Device Use |url=https://www.lcps.org/o/lcps/page/policy-8655 |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=www.lcps.org}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Goodenow |first=Evan |date=2025-12-17 |title=Updated LCPS student phone/personal devices policy approved |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/education/updated-lcps-student-phone-personal-devices-policy-approved/article_7a25c5da-e6c3-4e12-ad10-63997ccd9102.html |work=Loudoun Times}}</ref> [[Loudoun County Public Schools|LCPS]] has accepted feedback throughout the policy's implementation,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-02 |title=Your Feedback on Cell Phone and Personal Device Use in Schools |url=https://www.lcps.org/article/2391048 |access-date=2026-06-11 |website=[[Loudoun County Public Schools|LCPS]] |publisher= |language=en}}</ref> and some members of the School Board are considering further changes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2026-06-02 |title=Shernoff, Spence Ask School Board to Tweak Student Phone Policy |url=https://www.loudounnow.com/news/shernoff-spence-ask-school-board-to-tweak-student-phone-policy/article_d6dbc694-9547-444c-bbdd-259069959477.html |access-date=2026-06-11 |website=LoudounNow.com |language=en|last=Lewis|first=Patrick}}</ref>

Following [[Glenn Youngkin|Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin]] passing Virginia Code § 22.1-79.3:1 in April 2025, which made personal device usage at all grade levels illegal from bell-to-bell, the LCPS school board began updating their own policy to reflect the state law.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Torres |first=Matthew |date=2025-11-24 |title=LCPS considers bell-to-bell ban on student cell phones, other devices |url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/lcps-considers-full-ban-on-student-cell-phones-and-other-devices/65-a583e01e-f10f-409b-ae6d-fa4ea63dab29 |work=[[WUSA9]]}}</ref> There was extensive discussion among the School Board about their update to the policy. Some expressed it was too restrictive, though full conformance with state law was required. On December 16, 2025, the School Board voted 6-1 to approve the updated provisions to the policy, with two abstentions, and the policy took effect on January 5, 2026.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-12-17 |title=School Phone, Personal Device Ban Approved by Loudoun School Board |url=https://www.loudounnow.com/news/education/school-phone-personal-device-ban-approved-by-loudoun-school-board/article_7b1946d5-bc23-4749-b70e-694794d93e3f.html |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=LoudounNow.com |language=en|last=Lewis|first=Patrick}}</ref> The following table shows how each board member voted on the updated policy.

|+Policy 8655 Updated Provisions Vote<ref>{{Cite web |title=School Board Information |url=https://www.lcps.org/o/lcps/page/school-board-information |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=www.lcps.org}}</ref>

Some members of the School Board have pushed back against the policy. As of June 2026, LCPS has responded to feedback regarding the policy and is considering updating it for clarity due to inconsistencies in its implementation. Students have expressed difficulties in their classes as a result of the policy. Some believe it will encourage student engagement with peers and instruction, while others believe devices should be allowed outside instructional time and are concerned for situations where personal devices can be used educationally.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Baloum |first=Ayan |title=Students are Struggling to Navigate their Classes After the New Personal Device Policy |url=https://uncagedfhs.org/27714/news/students-are-struggling-to-navigate-their-classes-after-the-new-personal-device-policy/ |access-date=2026-06-11 |website=[Uncaged.]|date=2026-02-06|first2=Sunny|last2=Panthangi}}</ref> Some parents and teachers have raised frustrations with contacting students during the school day and enforcing the policy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olatubosun |first=Simone |date=2026-06-18 |title=Cellphone Ban Frustrates Parents, Students, Teachers at This Va. High School |url=https://www.washingtoninformer.com/virginia-high-school-cellphone-ban/ |access-date=2026-09-07 |website=[[The Washington Informer]] |language=en-US}}</ref>