Texas has passed a new state law, House Bill 1481, which prohibits the use of “personal communication devices” by students in all public and open-enrollment charter schools during the school day. This law goes into effect for the 2025-26 school year, writes Olivia Weiser in the student newspaper at Hallettsville High School in South Texas.
She writes, “Students may not use their devices during lunch or passing periods. The only exception is for students who leave campus for off-campus lunch; devices may be used only while off campus.
“If a parent or guardian needs to contact their student during school hours, they must call the front office, and staff will deliver any urgent messages promptly. Likewise, if a student needs to reach out to their guardian, they may request to use the main office phone.”
To comply with the law, school districts must adopt a policy that either:
- Completely bans students from bringing these devices to campus, or
- Requires students to store the devices securely during the school day.
The law also requires schools to establish disciplinary measures for students who violate the policy. These consequences vary by district but can include verbal warnings, parental contact, device confiscation (which a parent or guardian must retrieve), and more severe disciplinary actions for repeat offenses.
The Texas legislature built a few exceptions into the law, as required by other laws, such as when it’s necessary for a student’s individualized education program (IEP), a documented medical need, or to comply with a health or safety requirement.
Supporters of the bill, including educators and parents, believe that removing the distraction of personal devices will enhance student focus, improve academic performance, promote mental health by reducing social media-related issues such as cyberbullying, and encourage more in-person conversations.
The bill didn’t pass without considerable discussion, as some parents and students expressed concerns about the inability to communicate during emergencies, while others, including many teachers, have welcomed the change.
The idea of prohibiting cellphone use during school hours isn’t unique to Texas — or to the US. Two fathers in Lancaster across the pond in the UK announced they would seek a judicial review of government guidance as part of a campaign to get smartphones banned in schools, the BBC reports.
“We know that when children use smartphones, they usually don’t do it in a safe way,” one said, referring to cyberbullying, manipulation, and grooming. “Parents have told us about boys being filmed naked in the PE changing rooms and then shared across the school.” A ban on smartphones, they said, was a “no-brainer.”