Since Texas’ new cellphone ban in public and charter K-12 schools during the school day went into effect Sept. 1, school districts are reporting positive impacts. Districts are reporting students have become more engaged in and outside of classrooms, and report less conflict among the student population.
Signed into law as House Bill (HB) 1481, the law requires all school systems to prohibit students from using personal devices, including smartphones, smartwatches, and wireless earbuds, from the first bell to the last. The ban’s stated aim is to improve student focus, reduce distractions, and minimize cyberbullying, with exceptions granted for documented medical needs or school emergencies. The legislation added Texas to the growing list of more than 30 states that have passed similar measures, which has quickly spread across the U.S. after Florida became the first to codify a ban two years ago.
Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath said, during a Senate Education Committee hearing on Sept. 18, 2024, cellphones are “extremely harmful” to student learning and mental health, and he sees a relationship between student cellphone use and declining performance on state and national exams.
From Spring 2023 to Spring 2024, Morath said, the percentage of students demonstrating proficiency on the math portion of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness decreased for most grades.
In Southeast Texas, Vidor ISD Superintendent Jay Killgo, Ed.D. said it has been a “positive change” — thus far.
“The students are interacting positively, and the social skills seem to be ticking upward. Overall, it has been a very positive change,” said Killgo. “The concern about taking away local control on this issue has been alleviated by the overall strong impact we have seen. It seems that the consensus that this was needed was accurate.”
According to Mike Canizales, Communications/Community Engagement coordinator for Hamshire-Fannett ISD, said since implementing the policy, staff has noticed several encouraging outcomes:
• Improved social interaction: Students are engaging with one another face-to-face more often, building stronger social skills and empathy instead of relying on communication through a screen.
• Increased focus on academics: Teachers report that students are more engaged in class and more likely to complete their schoolwork without the distraction of cell phones.
• Stronger classroom culture: Classroom transitions are smoother, student engagement is higher, and we are seeing more productive peer-to-peer conversations both in the classroom and during lunch.
• Overall, the absence of cell phones during the school day has helped foster a more connected and focused learning environment for our students.
Nederland ISD Superintendent Dr. Stuart B. Kieschnick said he has seen no negative issues from the cell phone ban.
“It has been a virtual non-issue,” he added.
Beaumont ISD chose to implement the Yondr Program at all middle and high school campuses to create phone-free school environments.
“The initiative is designed to foster increased student engagement, improved academic performance, and enhanced social interaction by minimizing digital distractions during the school day,” according to the school district’s website.
All students receive an individual Yondr pouch, which will remain with them throughout the school year. The pouch will be used to securely store personal cell phones from arrival until dismissal each day.
According to the Port Arthur ISD website, if a staff member sees or hears a phone, it will be taken and returned only on Friday for a fee of $15. Phones will be given to the receptionist and can only be returned to a legal parent or guardian, and teachers are expected to enforce this policy.
Port Neches-Grove ISD officials posted on social media that, as situations arise, such as adjustments to extracurricular schedules, weather events or unplanned emergencies, personal use will be at the discretion of coaches, sponsors and staff.
According to a Sept. 15 article in the Texas Tribune, some schools have chosen to work around the ban. HB 1481 requires that phones be banned the entire school day, but the Texas Education Agency (TEA) allows schools to define what constitutes a school day.
As a result, North East and Alamo Heights ISDs in San Antonio re-classified their school days to only include classroom instructional time, which allows students to use their devices during lunchtime and in the hallways.