HB 1481 mandates that all public and open enrollment charter schools prohibit students from using personal electronic devices, including cellphones.
SAN ANTONIO — Beginning Sept. 1, use of cellphones in schools will be banned in Texas–the result of a new law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday in Amarillo.
Now, as the new school year begins, San Antonio-area school districts are making plans on how to prepare.
Parents told KENS 5 on Friday that they’re fully on board with the new law and rules it paves the way for.
“I think it’s great. These kids are constantly distracted by their phones,” said Hugo Isensee, who holds a master of education.
House Bill 1481 mandates that all public and open enrollment charter schools prohibit students from using personal electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and earbuds.
Districts have two options: banning students completely from bringing devices to campus or figuring out how to store them during the school day.
Several school districts have not yet finalized their policy, including Northside ISD, officials from which 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 John Craft.
Craft says he supports recommending that students be allowed to bring their devices to school.
“Then, placed in a designated area in the classroom (or) within the backpack, and to be turned off and not visible, not used during the instructional day,” said Craft.
Administrators at Northside ISD say they will finalize their plans at the next school board meeting scheduled for 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,” Isensee said. “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.”
Anna Flores, a parent, says that during school, she 100% believes her children should not be using their cellphone. But when it comes to the new law, she finds herself more in the middle.
“There’s pros and there’s cons,” Flores said.
Flores says she understands the argument on how the new law could 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 (say), ‘Mom, we’re on lockdown,'” Flores said. “It gives me a chance to either call the school (to find out) what’s going on or come to the school.”
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, including Alamo Heights, East Central and South San ISDs. To find out what they said, click here.