Richmond, Va. – The Virginia Department of Education is hosting a series of Commonwealth Conversations to give parents, educators, and community members the opportunity to share their thoughts on the best ways to achieve cell phone-free education in Virginia and address the increasing evidence of the impact cell phone and social media usage has on youth mental health and education performance. 

On July 9, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33 to establish cell phone-free education to promote the health and safety of Virginia’s K-12 students. Executive Order 33 directs the VDOE to provide guidance to school boards on cell phone-free education policies and procedures. School boards will establish local cell phone-free education policies and procedures before the end of this year.   

Parents, educators, and interested community members are invited to attend a Commonwealth Conversation and discuss their expectations for the upcoming policy changes that will take effect in January 2025. Below is a list of the upcoming conversations being held throughout the Commonwealth: 

• Manassas - July 18, 2 - 3:30 p.m. 
  Osbourn High School 
  
• Virginia Beach - July 22, 4:30 - 6 p.m. 
  Tallwood High School 
  
• Fredericksburg - July 30, 9 - 10:30 a.m. 
  James Monroe High School 
  
• Waynesboro - July 31, 10 - 11:30 a.m. 
  Kate Collins Middle School 
  
• Roanoke - July 31, 4 - 5:30 p.m. 
  Northside High School 
• Abingdon - August 1, 3 - 4:30 p.m. 
  Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center 
• Keysville - August 2, 1:30 - 3 p.m.  
  Southside Virginia Community College Keysville Campus 
  Workforce Development Center    
• Midlothian - August 6, 4-5:30 p.m. 
  Chesterfield County Public Schools  Career and Technical Center   

Virginians who would like to register to join the conversation at these events, learn more about Executive Order 33, or share feedback about cell phone-free education, should visit the Cell Phone-Free Education in Virginia webpage (www.doe.virginia.gov/cell-phone-free-education). 

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