Starting this school year, all students at Houston Independent School District (HISD) campuses will face restrictions on cell phone usage during the school day, following a new state law.
HISD announced its policy change on Thursday, aiming to create a distraction-free environment for students in classrooms.
According to the district, the policy prohibits the use of all ‘personal communication devices.’ This includes not only cell phones but also smart watches, tablets, headphones, earbuds, and any other electronic devices capable of communication.
‘No calls, texts, photos, video recording, social media or internet access will be allowed during the instructional day,’ stated HISD Chief of Schools Sandi Massey in a video outlining the new rules.
Devices must remain out of sight and sound from the moment students arrive on campus until the last period of the day concludes, which includes lunch and passing periods.
While students can keep their devices powered off in their backpacks or designated storage areas during school hours, the district is strict about adherence to this policy.
The new rules were developed to align with House Bill 1481, a law passed by the Texas Legislature this year that mandates public and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt policies prohibiting the usage of personal wireless communication devices during instructional time.
HISD has established a tiered disciplinary system for those who violate the new cell phone policy, with consequences escalating with repeated offenses.
For a first offense, the device is confiscated, and a parent or guardian must collect it from the office after school, during which they can review the law and district policy.
For a second violation, the device remains confiscated for one full school day before being returned to a parent or guardian.
If a student is caught violating the policy a third time, the device will be held for two full school days before it can be retrieved.
Further violations will lead to elevated formal disciplinary action, as HISD has made it clear that they accept no responsibility for lost, stolen, or damaged devices confiscated for policy breaches.
Interestingly, while the state law does not specify punishments or penalties for violations, the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) guidance encourages districts to incorporate disciplinary measures and allows for device confiscation.
Unclaimed confiscated items can be disposed of after a notice is provided to the student’s parent or guardian, with a waiting period of 90 days.
Exceptions to the policy include scenarios involving approved medical needs or documented directives from qualified physicians, as well as approved special education necessities.
It’s important to note that district-owned devices used for educational purposes are exempt from this new regulation.
The TEA has also introduced the Phone Free Schools Grant program, which provides funding for secure storage systems to districts that comply with the new phone policies, revealing a pot of $30 million allocated for participating schools.
On Friday, a spokesperson for HISD mentioned that the district is assessing the likelihood of applying for the grant.
Similar policies have already been instituted or are being considered by other Houston-area districts such as Humble ISD, Katy ISD, and Fort Bend ISD, although specific guidelines can vary from one district to another.
image source from：houstonpublicmedia
