SENATE BILL NO. 568

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Education and Health

on February 12, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Sturtevant)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-200.4, relating to Department of Education; public schools; use of school-issued devices for instructional purposes; development of model policies for limiting instructional screen time.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-200.4 as follows:

§ 22.1-200.4. Limitation on instructional screen time; model policies.

A. As used in this section:

"Instructional purpose" means any purpose directly related to providing instruction to, facilitating the learning of, or advancing the achievement of an educational objective by elementary or secondary school students in a classroom setting in accordance with or as a part of a program or course of instruction or educational curriculum.

"Instructional screen time" means the amount of instructional time in a given school day during which a public elementary or secondary school student is assigned to actively use a school-issued device for instructional purposes. "Instructional screen time" does not include (i) use of digital or projection tools or devices by a teacher unless a student is also assigned to actively use any such tool or device; (ii) brief administrative uses of a school-issued device or other digital devices or tools, including the use of digital devices or tools for attendance or other tasks relating to classroom management; or (iii) use of a school-issued device for any state or federally required assessment.

"School-issued device" means the same as that term is defined in § 22.1-289.01.

B. The Department shall develop and make available to each school board model policies relating to limiting instructional screen time per school day for students. Such model policies developed by the Department shall:

1. Include model policies and procedures for establishing limitations or caps on instructional screen time that are applicable to students in each grade level, kindergarten through grade 12, except as provided in subdivision 2, and guidance on establishing policies and procedures that impose limitations or caps on instructional screen time that vary by grade level, grade level group, or school level;

2. Not (i) apply to any student who, pursuant to the student's individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, requires more frequent use of a school-issued device as an accommodation or assistive technology support or (ii) be applied in a manner that conflicts with any student's use of or access to any accommodations or assistive technology supports required pursuant to such student's IEP or Section 504 Plan; and

3. Permit teachers to continue using digital and online instruction, including by permitting or requiring the use of school-issued devices by students, and include guidance for schools and teachers on the use of digital or online instruction in order to ensure that, for any given school day, students receive substantial instruction through non-screen-based methods.

C. Any school board may adopt a policy limiting instructional screen time that is consistent with but may be more comprehensive than the model policies developed by the Department pursuant to subsection B. Any school board that adopts any such policy shall:

1. Post such policy in a prominent and publicly accessibly location on the school board's website; and

2. Submit to the Department by August 1 of each year a report describing the policy and the implementation of the policy, including (i) the instructional screen time limits imposed by the policy, including, if applicable, the different instructional screen time limits imposed by grade level, grade level group, or school level, and (ii) the aggregate number of students in the school who, due to accommodations or assistive technology reports required pursuant to any such student's IEP or Section 504 Plan, received exemptions from such policy pursuant to subdivision B 2.