The West Virginia Legislature approved House Bill 2003 during the 2025 Regular Session (RS.) This amended West Virginia Code §18 - 2 – 46. This required all county school systems to approve a policy on Cellphones and Electronic Devices that adheres to the revised code. Schools were then given the task of amending their handbooks to be in compliance with the new state rules. Since the handbooks were sent to print prior to the guidance being released, all schools have created a "Handbook Addendum" for 2025-2026 that explains how the school will enforce the new Cell Phone rules. Schools may be "more restrictive" than the county policy or state code, but may not be less restrictive.
Schools were required to define:
Procedures for Cell Phones and Electronic Devices.
Storage of Cell Phones/ Electronic Devices during instructional times.
A progressive list of consequences for violations.
A communication plan for parents who need to contact their child during instructional time or a child who needs to contact a parent during instructional time.
Information for each school can be found in their addendum.
Each school's Local School Improvement Council (LSIC) must discuss the school's Cell Phone Procedures in the Handbook once per school year and suggest improvements. Suggested improvements cannot be less restrictive than the State Code 18-2-46.
School Handbook Addendums: https://5il.co/3mwba
County Policy 8017: https://5il.co/3mk0a