Dear VHCS Family,

As we prepare for the start of the 2025–26 school year, we want to share important information about a new state law and how we are adjusting our communication practices to keep students and families informed.

Alabama House Bill 166, the Freeing Our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety (FOCUS) Act, was approved by the Alabama State Legislature and Governor Ivey this spring. This law prohibits students at all Alabama public schools from using or possessing personal wireless communication devices during the instructional day. The law defines “instructional day” as the time between the first bell to begin school and the last bell to end school. The law goes into effect for the 2025–26 school year. 

Wireless communication devices include cell phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, pagers, gaming devices, smart watches, AirPods, and any other portable electronic and wireless device that has the capability of exchanging voice, messaging or other data communication with another electronic device. School-issued Chromebooks and other school-owned devices are not part of this law.

Students in grades 6–12 who bring devices to school must keep the devices turned off and stored in their backpacks, handbags, or school lockers during the instructional day. Elementary school students who bring these devices to school must keep them turned off and stored in their backpacks from the time they arrive at school until the time they leave school. Each school discipline plan will address the consequences for inappropriate uses of these devices during the instructional day. 

VHCS allows exceptions only for documented educational or medical needs (as specified in a special education Individualized Education Plan, 504 plan, or health plan) or for emergencies affecting life or safety.

The State Department of Education has developed an online course to educate students on the risks of social media and how to use it safely. The course will cover age-appropriate social media use, the risks including mental health impacts and misinformation, and safe practices such as reporting suspicious behavior and protecting personal information. Schools must provide the course to all students before they enter eighth grade and make it available to new students in grades 8–12 who haven’t yet completed it. For the 2025–26 school year, all seventh grade students in VHCS will take the course. 

We are streamlining our school communication tools. Beginning this school year, all official messages from our schools and school-sponsored programs will be shared through ParentSquare and/or email. Teachers may also continue to use Google Classroom for communication about class assignments.

These platforms are accessible to students on our school-issued Chromebooks, so students will be able to stay up to date on their academic and extracurricular programs without needing their personal devices during the day. They can also be accessed from students’ personal devices when they are away from school.

Yes, parents will continue to have access to these communication tools anytime through their own devices.

All students and staff already have VHCS email and ParentSquare/StudentSquare accounts. Access to these platforms is provided to students at the beginning of the school year. If you have not already activated your ParentSquare account, you can do so here by entering the email address or phone number you provided us during registration. 

If you have questions about the new law, communication platforms, or what these changes mean for your child, please contact your school’s administrative team. Thank you for your continued support as we work together for a great start to the school year.