AUSTIN, Texas — Schools across Texas have implemented a strict ban on personal communication devices in classrooms as the new academic year begins, following the passage of House Bill 1481.
The law, enacted over the summer, prohibits students from kindergarten through 12th grade from using personal devices during school hours.
The law defines personal communication devices as smartphones, flip phones, tablets, smartwatches, radios, pagers, or any electronic device capable of digital communication.
Schools are required to confiscate devices that are used in violation of the policy, storing them in the front office until the end of the school day. Parents or guardians are the only individuals allowed to retrieve the devices.
Schools may charge a fee of up to $15 for the retrieval of confiscated devices. If a device remains unclaimed for 90 days, the school can dispose of it.
Exceptions to the ban include devices used for special education services, such as Individual Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans, and medical devices for students with conditions like diabetes or epilepsy.
Health and safety needs, as well as legal or school safety requirements, also allow for device usage.
Schools have flexibility in enforcement methods, with some opting for a ‘three strikes’ policy, where repeated violations lead to progressively severe consequences, including In-School Suspension.
Other schools may require students to deposit their devices at the front office or use lock pouches that prevent access during the school day.
While devices are prohibited during school hours, students are still allowed to bring them to school, unless otherwise specified by the school’s policy. The new law does not apply to adult education programs operated under specific charters.
The Texas Education Agency will provide model language for the policy on its website. School districts are required to adopt the policy by the 90th day after the law’s effective date, which takes effect immediately after receiving the required legislative vote or on Sept. 1.
