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Fairfax County students will face a stricter ban on cell phones and smart devices during the 2026-27 school year, including a new prohibition on high school phone use at lunch.

The Fairfax County School Board approved the policy changes Thursday, May 7, as part of revisions to Fairfax County Public Schools’ Student Rights and Responsibilities regulation. The document sets expectations for student conduct, family engagement and how adults respond to behavioral issues.

Beginning July 1, 2026, students in every grade must keep phones, phone accessories and other internet-connected personal devices turned off and personally stored throughout the bell-to-bell school day.

The change brings FCPS policy into line with Virginia’s new SB108, which requires every school in the state to adopt a bell-to-bell phone-free policy. Under the revised rules, high school students will no longer be permitted to use the covered devices during lunch.

The board also approved centralized online training intended to increase and standardize annual requirements for staff.

Revisions add procedures for in-school and out-of-school suspensions and disciplinary investigations, including support for students with disabilities and multilingual learners.

FCPS will also expand its guidance and standardize disciplinary procedures for harassment, hate speech, discriminatory conduct and Title IX reporting. The updated regulation includes new offenses and disciplinary responses involving intimate images, fighting, physical aggression, throwing objects and violations of drug policies.