Cell Phone Policy - New Texas Law Prohibits Student Use of Personal Devices

House Bill 1481, passed by the Texas Legislature this year, requires school districts to prohibit student use of personal communication devices during the school day.

A personal communication device is defined as: a telephone, cell phone, tablet, smartwatch, radio device, paging device, gaming device, AirPods, or any other electronic device capable of telecommunication or digital communication.

The law bans the use of such devices by students during regular school hours. If students choose to bring such a device to school it must be turned off and out of sight while in class, at lunch, and during passing periods. Ector County ISD will not supply storage for devices so students are responsible for storing them securely, out of sight throughout the day.

No. The law states “during the instructional day” which does not include riding on a bus before or after school or on extracurricular trips.

There are exceptions in the law. Students with a documented need based on a directive from a qualified physician, or a student with an individualized education plan (IEP)/Section 504 IAP plan that includes an assistive technology will continue to receive appropriate accommodations.

You can call the school office and leave a message to be delivered to your child. In the same way, a student who needs to contact their parents can visit the school office for permission.

ECISD continues to use the Standard Response Protocol and in the event of a school emergency, such as a lockdown, staff and students will enact the appropriate procedures. The District has communication plans in place and will contact parents with information as soon as possible during the situation.

Students will be reminded of the new law, and of their responsibility to put devices away during the school day.

If your child’s device is visible, being used, or makes noise it will be considered a violation and will be taken up by a teacher or administrator and stored safely at the school. Only a parent or guardian of the student will be allowed to retrieve the device from a school administrator.

The first violation will result in a documented warning, however, repeated violations will result in increased discipline per the Student Code of Conduct.

Refusing to surrender a device when asked by a school staff member will also result in disciplinary consequences.

Please talk with your child about the importance of following the new law. The goal is to reduce distractions, allow students to stay more engaged in learning, and create a safer learning environment. We understand it will take some time to get used to this change but we believe it will benefit our students and our schools.