Phone-Free Schools in Washington, D.C.: FCPS Cell Phone Policy
Fairfax County Public Schools serves about 180,000 students in Fairfax, Virginia. Virginia’s phone-free school law, SB 108, has been in effect since July 1, 2026.
- Location
- Fairfax, Virginia
- Fairfax County
- Enrollment
- About 180,000 students
- Washington, D.C. area
Fairfax County Public Schools, the largest school district in Virginia, is a public school district headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia (Fairfax County), serving approximately 180,000 students across the Washington, D.C. area. Like every district in Virginia, its cell phone rules are shaped by state law — and by how well the policy is actually enforced on each campus.
Does FCPS ban cell phones?
Yes. Virginia has a statewide phone-free school law (SB 108 (2026), amending HB 1961 / SB 738 (2025)) covering school board policies must restrict possession and prohibit use of cell phones and smart devices (including smartwatches and tablets) on school property bell to bell, including lunch and time between classes. The district's own rules may go further; check its student handbook.
For the full statute, scope, effective date, and primary sources, see our guide to Virginia's phone-free school law, part of our phone-free school laws by state directory.
Enforcing a phone-free day across Washington, D.C.
Virginia's law sets the rule; how phones are stored and how violations are handled is largely left to each district.
Three enforcement models districts choose from
- Physical pouches (e.g., Yondr): a per-student cost that recurs as pouches are lost or damaged, plus daily hand-out and unlocking at every campus.
- District storage (lockers, caddies, classroom bins): low hardware cost, but it relies on staff to police compliance period after period.
- Device-level software (such as LockedIn): locks the phone students already carry during school hours, with no pouches to hand out.
LockedIn, which publishes this page, makes software that locks students' own phones during the school day, with an admin dashboard and no pouches or hardware. Where a state requires phones to be stored away from students, it works alongside that storage rather than replacing it. Compare the options in our phone-free school solutions comparison or the LockedIn vs. Yondr breakdown, and model the math with our pouch-vs-software cost calculator.
What FCPS schools can do next
Draft a policy with our free phone-free school policy generator, or contact our team for a quote. Title I schools in Virginia may also qualify for subsidized access.
Explore other Virginia school districts or browse phone-free school coverage by district.
Frequently asked questions
Does FCPS have a cell phone ban?
Yes. Virginia has a statewide phone-free school law (SB 108 (2026), amending HB 1961 / SB 738 (2025)) covering school board policies must restrict possession and prohibit use of cell phones and smart devices (including smartwatches and tablets) on school property bell to bell, including lunch and time between classes. The district's own rules may go further; check its student handbook.
What is Virginia's school cell phone law?
Virginia law (Va. Code § 22.1-79.3:1, as amended by SB 108 in 2026) requires every school board to restrict possession and prohibit use of cell phones and smart devices on school property from bell to bell, including lunch. It has been in effect since July 1, 2026. See our full Virginia guide for the statute, scope, effective date, and exceptions.
How can Fairfax-area schools enforce a phone-free day?
Schools generally choose physical pouches (like Yondr), district-managed storage, or device-level software like LockedIn that locks the phone students already carry during school hours. Each district picks the method; check FCPS's student handbook for the one it uses.
How much does LockedIn cost for a district like FCPS?
LockedIn is priced per student, per year, and quoted per school or district based on enrollment and rollout — there are no pouches or hardware to buy and no per-unit replacement costs. Contact us for a written quote and a side-by-side comparison against a pouch program. Qualifying Title I schools may receive subsidized or fully covered access.