Virginia Beach School Board rescinds, then revises Chromebook/screen-time limits

WHRO reported on June 26, 2026 that the Virginia Beach School Board brought its Chromebook/screen-time classroom rule back to the floor about two weeks after its June 8 vote—then rescinded that earlier version and adopted a more restrictive approach. For families, the practical impact is what the district’s current published guidance says in Policy 6-18 for the 2026/2027 school year.

What the board rescinded (the June 8 classroom rule)

In the June 8, 2026 policy action, WHRO said the board’s classroom approach would bar Chromebooks in pre-K and kindergarten classrooms, allow up to 10 devices for first grade, and keep 1-to-1 devices for second grade (in classrooms only). WHRO also reported that the June 8 policy version included exceptions, including for English language learners and students who needed access through an educational plan.

The June 8 meeting minutes show the policy change proceeded through amendments and then a substitute motion that passed 7-4-0.

What’s in place now (Policy 6-18 for 2026/2027)

According to WHRO, the board rescinded the earlier version and then passed a more restrictive policy two weeks later by a 6-5 vote. Today, the controlling language for classrooms is the district’s posted Policy 6-18 “Technology Usage Guidelines,” effective in 2026/2027:

• Pre-Kindergarten through Kindergarten (classroom settings): Chromebooks (or similar devices) shall not be utilized by students.
• First grade (classroom settings): device utilization is limited to a maximum of 10 issued devices per classroom.
• Grade 2 (classroom settings): students will have 1-to-1 Chromebooks (or similar devices), but they cannot take devices home. When schools are closed for severe weather events and/or other emergencies, grade 2 students may take devices home.
• Grades 3-5 (classroom settings): students maintain 1-to-1 devices and are allowed to take devices home.

The policy page also shows it was amended by the School Board on June 8, 2026.

Where exceptions apply (and where they don’t)

Policy 6-18 is explicit that these classroom-setting limits do not apply to technology use that’s required or permitted through a student-specific plan or need. The Technology Usage Guidelines say the limits do not apply to technology use specified in a student’s:

• Section 504 plan
• Individualized Educational Plan (IEP)
• Use for limited educational assessment
• Other adaptive learning needs for English Language Learners

What parents should look for next

• Check your child’s grade in Policy 6-18 to see whether the classroom rule is “no devices,” “max 10 per classroom,” “1-to-1 but no take-home (with severe-weather/emergency exceptions),” or “1-to-1 with take-home.”
• If your child has a 504 plan or IEP, ask how the school will handle technology use under the policy’s exemption language.
• For Grade 2, ask what school leadership will treat as a qualifying severe weather event and/or other emergency when deciding whether a device may go home.
• Watch for the district’s required annual report and presentation on student screen time, which the policy says will include grade-level data and trends over time.

Sources

• WHRO (June 26, 2026): Virginia Beach school board changes screen-time policy two weeks after creating it
• Virginia Beach School Board Policy 6-18 (Instructional Time / Technology Usage Guidelines)