HOUSTON – A new law passed by the Texas Legislature bans the use of cell phones and other personal communication devices in public schools during the school day. The law, which took effect last month, requires all school districts to adopt policies that restrict or prohibit the use of devices such as cell phones, tablets and smartwatches on school property during instructional time.
Gov. Greg Abbott signed Texas House Bill 1481, which passed both the Texas House on April 24 and the Senate on May 25. School districts have until Sept. 18 to implement written policies that comply with the new rules.
Devices covered under the ban include cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, pagers and any other device capable of telecommunication or digital communication. Exceptions are made for devices used in educational programs, students with a doctor’s note and devices necessary to comply with health or safety requirements.
The CEO of Crime Stoppers of Houston Rania Mankarious stopped by “Houston Life” and shared her expert advice on the effects of the cell phone ban in schools.
📱Pros of the ban
- Reduces distractions in the classroom, allowing teachers to focus more on instruction.
- Improves student mental health by limiting exposure to social media during school hours.
- Encourages face-to-face interaction among students.
- Helps reduce cyberbullying by limiting opportunities to take or share inappropriate content during school.
- May improve academic performance by minimizing phone-related disruptions.
📱Cons of the ban
- Parents may have difficulty reaching their children quickly during the school day.
- Law enforcement may lose access to important student reporting tools.
- Adds monitoring and enforcement responsibilities for teachers and staff.
- Students who rely on devices for translation, timers or accessibility tools may face challenges.
- Some students may bypass the ban using smartwatches or hidden devices.
- The ban does not include education on digital responsibility or healthy technology habits.
Tell us in the comments below whether you agree with the new bill banning or restricting the use of communication devices during school hours.
Watch Mankarious’s complete interview in the video above.
For more of Rania’s updates about the community, follow her on Instagram at @theraniareport.