CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Summer vacations come to an end for students Wednesday in six area school districts as they return to school for the 2025-26 academic year. Students in Augusta, Buckingham, Culpeper, Orange counties and cities of Staunton and Waynesboro begin their school years Aug. 6.

That’s the largest group of schools beginning on a single day this year.

Students in Fluvanna, Louisa, Madison and Nelson counties have another week off as they start Aug. 12. Charlottesville city, as well as Albemarle and Greene counties begin school the next day, Aug. 13. Harrisonburg city and Rockingham County schools start the latest, Aug. 20 and 21 respectively.

Some of the new policies in effect are a statewide ban the General Assembly passed and Governor Youngkin signed prohibiting cellphone use throughout the school day, “bell to bell” as some call it. Charlottesville and Albemarle have had such policies predating the statewide rule.

Another new policy is schools are now required to notify parents about sexually explicit instructional materials and request alternative materials be used. School systems are requiring teachers give 30-days notice to parents before such material is used.