After hearing from educators that cell phones are distractions in the classroom, Texas banned the devices in K-12 schools, drawing on rare bipartisan support from both the Texas House and Senate.
Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1481 into law on June 22. Authored by the only Gen Z member of the Texas Legislature, Rep. Caroline Fairly (R-Amarillo), students in school will no longer be allowed to use “personal wireless communication devices” during class times.
The bill lists cell phones, text messaging devices, laptops and tablets as devices that would fall under the state’s K-12 classroom ban.
During the most recent state legislative session, lawmakers heard from many teachers, administrators and parents during education committee hearings in both chambers, where supporters of the bill expressed concern over students’ mental health and the use of social media for cyberbullying.
Surging research from the past few years has drawn a link between cell phone use and students developing shorter attention spans and being less able to engage during class times.
But some parents have expressed concern that the ban could interfere with academic performance and the ability to communicate in emergencies.
Denise Valuk, a mom of two teens, 15 and 17, who spoke with the Report before HB 1481 passed the House in April, said putting a complete ban on cell phones during class time is going too far, especially for campuses that are increasingly reliant on technology for instruction.
Her teens attend Anne Frank Inspire Academy, a charter school in San Antonio where Valuk said her two sons submit all assignments through a laptop, tablet or smartphone.
“I would want my kids to be able to communicate in the event of something horrible or just a regular emergency,” she added.
Students trapped in classrooms used their phones to call 911 and text their parents during the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, which left 19 children and two teachers dead.
But Valuk also worries her teenage students are negatively impacted by the free use of cell phones when it comes to their attention span and productivity. Valuk compares her teenagers to her eldest 28-year-old son who didn’t have as much access to electronic devices and the internet growing up.
“I see the difference in his productivity level and his motivation, versus these two kids that have access to social media and so much [screen] time on their phones,” Valuk said. “I kind of see the difference in how they act and what they do.”
A majority of House representatives, including Republican and Democrat officials from the San Antonio area, co-sponsored the bill: Philip Cortez (D-San Antonio), John Lujan (R-San Antonio), Trey Martinez-Fischer (D-San Antonio) and Ray Lopez (D-San Antonio).
The only member from the Bexar County delegation to vote against the ban was Rep. Josey Garcia (D-San Antonio).
Before the ban, cell phone policies varied from one school district to another in Texas.
There weren’t any district-wide bans on cell phones at San Antonio school districts, but some campus administrators were experimenting with policies to restrict usage.
At O’Connor High School in Northside Independent School District, students were required to place their cell phones in cases before the start of every class, a policy enacted this past school year.
At Churchill High School, part of North East Independent School District, phones were allowed during passing periods and lunch, and when a student broke the rules a verbal warning typically sufficed, district spokesperson Aubrey Chancellor said in March.
Eisenhower Middle School, another NEISD school, had a different policy dictating students could not have phones out at all from bell to bell, and students violating the policy would have their phones confiscated.
The variety of cell phone policies at NEISD and NISD mirrored that of policies at other school districts and charter schools in the area.
Now school districts and charter schools have 90 days since Abbott signed the cellphone ban to adopt one of two policies: completely ban cell phones from school grounds or store them away during school hours.
