Phones Locked Up for Learning | Richmond News

Richmond News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 17, 2026 · 1m

Two years after Virginia’s statewide push to limit school phone use, districts are finding their footing—some thriving, others still adjusting. Martin Luther King Middle in Richmond led the way with a bold pilot: students lock phones in pouches from arrival to dismissal, directly tackling classroom distractions. Now, Richmond Public Schools is rolling out a tiered enforcement system—with warnings, calls home, and even suspensions for repeat offenders—and serious violations could trigger police involvement. Early hiccups included students tampering with pouches, prompting schools to take…