Skip To Main Content

Search

Main Navigation

Mobile Translate ( don't delete )

Mobile Utility

Header Holder

Header Right

Header Utility

Translate

Search

Mobile Toggle ( don't delete )

Breadcrumb

Cell Phone-Free Schools Support Learning, Safety, and Belonging

Off, Away, All Day, Across Every Campus

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) requires students to keep personal cell phones and smart devices silenced or turned off, stored away in a secure school-identified location, not visible and not used from the first instructional bell through dismissal. 

When phones and smart devices are off and away, students are better able to focus on instruction, participate in classroom discussions, engage with peers, and move safely throughout the building. A consistent expectation also helps staff spend less time addressing distractions and more time supporting teaching, learning, and positive student relationships.

This expectation applies across every ACPS school and throughout the school day, including during classes, lunch, passing periods, recess, safety drills and other school-day activities, unless an approved exception applies.

What Does “Bell to Bell” Mean?

Bell to bell means from the first instructional bell through the dismissal bell.

During this time, cell phones and smart devices are expected to be:

  • Silenced or turned off

  • Stored away in a secure school-identified location

  • Not visible

  • Not used

This includes:

  • Classes and instructional periods
  • Lunch
  • Passing periods
  • Restrooms and locker rooms
  • Recess and similar activities
  • Safety drills
  • Other school-day settings, unless an approved exception applies.

What Devices Are Included?

The examples below are not intended to list every device. They are intended to help families and students recognize the types of personal devices covered by the policy.

Purpose

Virginia Code section 22.1-79.3:1 requires each school board to develop, and each public elementary and secondary school to implement, age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate policies governing student cell phone and smart device possession and use on school property from bell to bell. Bell to bell means after the first instructional bell through the dismissal bell and includes lunch and time between class periods.

ACPS Policy JFCM requires students to keep cell phones and smart devices silenced or turned off and stored in a secure school-identified location from bell to bell. The expectation applies during class, lunch, passing periods, restrooms, locker rooms, recess or similar activities, safety drills, and other school-day settings unless an approved exception applies.

The ACPS communication theme is: Off, Away, All Day, Across Every Campus. This means cell phones and smart devices are expected to be turned off or silenced, stored away, not visible, and not used from the beginning of the instructional day through dismissal.

Resources