Texas enacted House Bill 1481, which mandates that all public (and open-enrollment charter) school districts must adopt policies prohibiting students from using personal communication devices during the school day.
The law takes effect Sept. 1, some weeks after the 2025-2026 school year begins. Here’s what to know about Texas cellphone bans.
While phones are crucial for parents to stay connected with their children, they can also create distractions in classrooms and cafeterias.
School districts are increasingly banning cellphone use during the school day due to several concerns:
Several school districts in Texas have recently implemented bans on cellphone use during the school day:
What is the policy if students are caught using a cell phone during class time?
As stated by Austin ISD, on Aug. 21, the Board of Trustees will vote on Disciplinary Measure for Violations of the new policy. It’s reported that all school districts must have a written policy that bans the use of cellphones in classrooms by Sept. 18.
