The Dallas Independent School District has approved a new policy banning student cell phone use during school hours. The decision, made during a recent board meeting, will take effect when students return to school on August 12.
Under the policy, students across the district will be prohibited from using cell phones throughout the school day.
Campuses and teachers will determine how devices are stored, and school officials will confiscate phones from students who violate the policy.
Penalties for repeated violations may include monetary fees, though individual campuses will determine exact consequences. The district says the goal is to promote a more focused learning environment by reducing distractions linked to personal electronic devices.
The policy comes in advance of a new state law, House Bill 1481, which will require all Texas public school districts to limit or ban personal electronic devices during instructional hours starting September 1.
The law gives districts flexibility in implementation, allowing for strategies such as storing phones in locked pouches or establishing specific rules.