Mark Earley Jr., the representative for Virginia’s House of Delegates District 73, said that removing cell phones from classrooms enhances student focus, classroom interaction, and mental well-being. He urged continued progress toward statewide implementation of this policy in a statement made on X.
“This is a big deal,” said Earley Jr., House Representative. “We need to keep the progress going to complete the goal of cell phone-free education. Our kids deserve it.”
In July 2024, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed Executive Order 33 directing the Virginia Department of Education to promote cell phone-free classrooms across public K–12 schools. According to the Virginia Department of Education, the initiative aims to support student mental health and reduce classroom distractions by encouraging school divisions to restrict cell phone use during instructional time. The policy reflects growing concern about the impact of digital devices on learning and behavior.
Banning cell phones in schools has been linked to improved academic performance and reduced behavioral issues. According to Oxford Learning, research conducted by Sara Sofie Abrahamsson found that cell phone bans particularly benefit female students by reducing bullying and increasing classroom engagement. These findings support policy shifts toward limiting mobile phone use in school settings to enhance educational outcomes.
The Virginia Department of Education reports that from 2019 to 2021, depression rates increased by 161% among boys and 145% among girls, correlating with rising smartphone use. The department cites research showing adolescents who spend more than three hours daily on social media are twice as likely to suffer from poor mental health. These statistics have driven support for cell phone-free education policies across the state.
Delegate Earley Jr., representing Virginia’s 73rd District, has focused his legislative efforts on education reform and increasing parental involvement. According to his campaign website, Earley advocates for policies that create focused learning environments by minimizing classroom distractions, including efforts to reduce student cell phone use. His professional background includes legal work and advocacy aimed at strengthening educational outcomes.
