‘There’s pros and there’s cons’ | Districts finalizing new policies after lawmakers ban cell phones in classrooms starting this school year

SAN ANTONIO — Beginning Sept. 1st, a new law in Texas has banned the use of cell phones in schools.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed the law in Amarillo on Friday.

As the new school year begins, area school districts are making plans on how to prepare.

Parents we spoke with today say they are fully on board with the new law, which bans cell phones from classrooms.

“I think it’s great. These kids are constantly distracted, by their phones,” said Hugo Isensee, M.Ed. 

House Bill 1481 mandates that all public and open enrollment charter schools, prohibiting students from using personal electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and earbuds.

Districts have two options, banning students completely from brining devices to campus, or figuring out how to store them during the school day.

Several school districts have not finalized their policy, including Northside ISD, who spoke about their plans during a school board meeting last month.

“Being in compliance with the law, but also like I say striking that balance is gonna be our main objective,” said Superintendent Dr. John Craft, Northside ISD.

Dr. Craft says he supports recommending students being allowed to bring their devices to school.

“Then placed, in a designated area in the classroom, within the backpack and to be turned off and not visible, not used during the instructional day,” said Dr. Craft.

Northside ISD says they will finalize their plans at the next school board meeting on Aug. 12.

Most people we asked about the new law said they support the ban.

“I think they’ll be more focused on the class work. I think they’ll be less distracted with social media, with less cyberbullying. I think that we’ll see a lot less problems that are in the schools now. I mean, when we grew up, bullying was on campus, now it’s 24/7,” said Isensee.

Parent Anna Flores says, during school, she 100 percent believes her children should not be using their cellphone, but is in the middle on the new law.

“There’s pros and there’s cons,” said Flores.

Flores says she understands the other side of the argument on how this new law would impact students during an emergency.

“Only because the times that they’ve gone on lockdown.  It takes a little while for the school to notify me, but of course my sons immediately mom we’re on lockdown.  It gives me a chance to either call the school what’s going on, or come to the school,” said Flores.

Now there are some exceptions to the law, including teacher led instruction and students with documented or medical needs.

We asked other area districts where they stood on their policies. Here are some of their responses.

Alamo Heights ISD is extending the existing elementary and junior school policy to the high school beginning this fall in response to the new law.

This applies to all AHISD campuses (PK-12):

• Students may bring a phone or device to school, but it must be powered off and stored out of sight for the entire school day, including during passing periods and lunch.
• Smartwatches must also be powered off, stored out of sight, and not used during the school day.
• Earbuds and headphones may not be used for personal use.
• Personal laptops or tablets will no longer be allowed for student use at school. (Students will continue to have access to district-provided devices when needed.)

East Central ISD leaders met in the spring of 2024 to create a cell phone policy that addresses the distractions it could cause students. 

The policy states: 

“Students are required to keep their device turned off and stored away upon arrival to campus through departure. 

If a student uses a telecommunication device without authorization during the instructional day, the device will be confiscated and delivered to the administration office. Only the parent/guardian may pick up the confiscated device from the campus administration office. In addition, students will receive additional disciplinary sanctions for repeat offenses.”

This is the response provided by the district:

“FSHISD is in the process of complying with this new law and do not have a completed policy as of yet.”

This is the response provided by the district:

“We have not received this policy.  We are waiting on our policy service provider to send a draft copy for our board to consider.”

This is the response provided by the district:

“The NEISD board is planning to address this at the Aug 11 board meeting.”

This is the response provided by the district:

“This policy is set to be finalized by our Board on Aug. 12.”

This is the response provided by the district:

We are taking appropriate policies, including a cell phone policy, to our trustees for action during the Aug. 18 board meeting in order to meet a Sept. 1 legislative deadline.

This is the response provided by the district:

“We are in the process of finalizing our policy. We will release it once we get board approval.”