Cell Phone Policy

Beginning January 6, 2025, all YCSD schools will implement No Cell, Bell-to-Bell policies. Ensuring students have their personal devices off and away during the school day fosters a safe and healthy learning environment, where students can fully engage in their studies and interact meaningfully with their peers and teachers.

We encourage families to discuss the value of this program and support the new policy by:

Only communicating about non-urgent matters before or after the school day.

Contacting the school’s main office (rather than the student directly) if there is a family emergency.

Elementary Schools

Students are not permitted to use a cell phone or personal electronic communication device on school buses or during the bell-to-bell school day.

Devices brought to school must be turned off and stored away during the bell-to-bell school day.

Students must get permission from a teacher, coach, club sponsor or administrator to use a personal device before or after the bell-to-bell school day.

Middle Schools

Students are not permitted to use a cell phone or personal electronic communication device on school buses or during the bell-to-bell school day.

Devices brought to school must be turned off and stored away during the bell-to-bell school day.

Students must get permission from a teacher, coach, club sponsor or administrator to use a personal device before or after the bell-to-bell school day.

Students must get permission from a teacher, coach, club sponsor or administrator to use a personal device during a field trip, or during other off-campus activities during the bell-to-bell school day.

High Schools

Students are not permitted to use a cell phone or personal electronic communication device during the bell-to-bell school day.

Devices brought to school must be turned off and stored away during the bell-to-bell school day.

Students may use cell phones and personal electronic communication devices while on campus before or after school and while on buses, under certain conditions.

Neither YCSD nor individual schools are responsible for the loss, theft or damage to any electronic device brought to school.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bell-to-Bell mean?

"Bell-to-Bell" means from when the first bell rings at the start of the school day to begin instructional time until the dismissal bell rings at the end of the academic school day. "Bell-to-Bell" includes lunch and time in between class periods (transition time). Below are the specific school hours for each campus.

School	Start Time	Dismissal Time	Early Release
York High	7:15 a.m.	2:00 p.m.	11:15 a.m.
Bruton, Grafton and Tabb High	7:20 a.m.	2:05 p.m.	11:20 a.m.
York River Academy	8:20 a.m.	3:10 p.m.	12:25 p.m.
Queens Lake and Tabb Middle	8:00 a.m.	2:45 p.m.	12:00 p.m.
Grafton and Yorktown Middle	8:05 a.m.	2:50 p.m.	12:05 p.m.
Elementary School (E)*	8:40 a.m.	3:20 p.m.	12:45 p.m.
Elementary School (M)*	8:55 a.m.	3:35 p.m.	1:00 p.m.
Elementary School (L)*	9:00 a.m.	3:40 p.m.	1:05 p.m.

(E)* Early Schedule - Bethel Manor, Magruder, Mt. Vernon, and Tabb Elementary
(M)* Middle Schedule - Coventry, Grafton Bethel and Waller Mill Elementary
(L)* Late Schedule - Dare, Seaford and Yorktown Elementary

What is defined as a Personal Electronic Device?

A personal electronic device includes cell phones, tablets, gaming devices, headphones/earbuds, and any other electronic device (including watches) that can be used for communication, entertainment, or accessing the internet.

Devices issued or approved by the division for the 1:1 program are not subject to this policy.

What does stored away mean?

Stored away means a cell phone or personal electronic communication device not being carried on the student's person, including not in the student's pocket.

What are the consequences for violating this policy?

Consequences for violating this policy will be in accordance with the YCSD Student Conduct Code and may include:

Verbal warning from a teacher or staff member.

Notification to parents or guardians.

Confiscation of the device for the remainder of the school day.

Repeated violations may result in further disciplinary action AND the parent/guardian being required to pick up the device in the main office during normal business hours.

What if I want to reach my child during the school day?

We want our students to be engaged in their learning; therefore, we ask that you refrain from contacting your student during the school day unless it is an emergency. Should you need to contact your student, please call the school's front office. We also encourage families to save the school phone number in your contact list in case your child calls you from the school's main office.

School	Phone Number
Bethel Manor Elementary School	757-867-7439
Coventry Elementary School	757-898-0403
Dare Elementary School	757-898-0362
Grafton Bethel Elementary School	757-898-0350
Magruder Elementary School	757-220-4067
Mt. Vernon Elementary School	757-898-0480
Seaford Elementary School	757-898-0352
Tabb Elementary School	757-898-0372
Waller Mill Elementary School	757-220-4060
Yorktown Elementary School	757-898-0358
Grafton Middle School	757-898-0525
Queens Lake Middle School	757-220-4080
Tabb Middle School	757-898-0320
Yorktown Middle School	757-898-0360
Bruton High School	757-220-4050
Grafton High School	757-898-0530
Tabb High School	757-867-7400
York High School	757-898-0354
York River Academy	757-898-0516

What if there is an emergency?

In emergency situations, it is safer for students to NOT be on a phone so they can follow staff directions. Division staff will follow established safety procedures including notifying families through our mass communication platforms.

What exceptions will be allowed?

Exemptions for a student to use their phones during the school day would require the following types of documentation: medical, 504, IEP, English Learners, or an extenuating circumstance approved by school administration. All exemptions require appropriate documentation approved by school administration.