Smartwatches banned in Alexandria City Public Schools classrooms

Author: Matt Pusatory (WUSA9)

Published: 1:57 PM EST January 1, 2025

Updated: 4:43 PM EST January 1, 2025

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — When Alexandria City Public Schools students return from winter break, they won't be able to use smartwatches in classrooms. The ACPS school board voted 8-1 to revise its current cellphone-free policy during a meeting last month.

This comes after Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order in July to remove cellphones from schools. The updated policy means students will face suspension or expulsion if caught using smart watches in class.

Under the amended policy, ACPS students are still allowed to use personal mobile devices on school buses, and outside their school buildings before and after school. However, Alexandria City High School students are now not allowed to use their phones, tablets or smartwatches between classes inside a building, in recess, or at lunch.

The one no vote came from school board member Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi.

“We changed the policy about a year-and-a-half ago to what we have now,” Elnoubi said during the Dec. 19 meeting. “And now this is driven by the VDOE and the governor’s advice. How’s the current policy working for us, because we put a policy that we felt works for us, right?”

Meanwhile, student representatives at the meeting spoke about the challenges of the ban, especially when teachers and other adults are seen in class and school buildings using their phones.

Read the full article here: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/education/alexandria-schools-smart-watch-ban/65-0e01b2a1-9055-46aa-97d2-6d4757473d6a