Back-to-school cellphone rules from local cities

By Lauren Roth
The Virginian-Pilot

When you see 4-year-olds with cell phones, you know technology has reached the masses. But even as cell phone consumers get younger and younger, local public schools have been less willing to embrace all the texting and talking.

Educators say the phones are a distraction that can be used for cheating. However, concerned parents say they want their children to be easily accessible.

In Virginia Beach schools, high school students are allowed to carry phones for use outside class hours. However, over four years, cell phone infractions by high school students quadrupled to more than 3,000 in 2006-07.

In response, the administration created stiffer penalties for high-schoolers violating cell phone policy. Once school begins Sept. 4, a first offense will lead to an in-school suspension, instead of confiscation of the phone. Additional offenses will lead to punishments up to long-term suspension.

A committee recommended against extending cell phone privileges to middle and elementary school students.

Students in Norfolk campaigned to be allowed to use cell phones in middle and high schools - after classes and with permission from a coach or staffer. The school board has agreed to reconsider the policy but has not yet made a decision. The earliest a change could take effect is next year, during the spring semester. The phones are still banned at all grade levels.

CHESAPEAKE

Rules Students are not allowed to carry cell phones at any grade level.

Consequences Cell phones are usually confiscated and must be picked up by a parent. At the high school or middle school, students can get an in-school suspension or other punishment on first or second offense, but there is no district-wide protocol. At the elementary level, punishment is case-by-case.

NORFOLK

Rules Students are not allowed to carry cell phones on school property except during evening events, such as football games.

Consequences For a first offense, the phone is taken away for the rest of the day. For a second offense, the phone is taken away until a parent retrieves it. After a third offense, the phone is confiscated for the remainder of the school year. Principals have some latitude in punishments.

PORTSMOUTH

Rules Students are allowed to carry - but not use- cell phones on school property.

Consequences Phones displayed during the instructional day will be confiscated and returned to a parent. Repeated violations can lead to in-school or out-of-school suspensions.

SUFFOLK

Rules High school students can bring cell phones to school for use before or after instructional hours, but not on buses. Middle school students must have parental permission to carry a phone. Elementary students are not allowed to carry a phone. Phones must be put away during school hours.

Consequences Cell phones are confiscated and returned to a parent at a meeting. After repeated violations, a student can be banned from carrying a phone.

VIRGINIA BEACH

Rules At the high school level, cell phones can be used before or after the instructional day, including on buses. Phones cannot be used or displayed during the school day. Middle and elementary students are not allowed to carry cell phones.

Consequences For high school students, phones will be confiscated and returned to a parent after 24 hours. Students also face suspensions of increasing length and severity, from one to three days of in-school suspension for a first offense to a long-term suspension for a fourth offense. Second and third offenses are punishable by out-of-school suspensions of increasing length, to a maximum of 10 days.

At middle and elementary schools, phones will be confiscated and picked up by a parent. In the case of repeated violations, punishments can escalate at the discretion of the principal.