Personal devices—including cell phones, smartwatches, tablets and laptops—must be turned off and stored in backpacks when the school day begins, according to a district news release. The policy will also apply to earbuds, earphones, smart eyeglasses and portable gaming devices, a district news release states.
The details
House Bill 1481 was passed by the 89th Texas Legislature in June and requires school districts across the state to adopt policies which restrict students from using personal communication devices during school hours.
The policy implemented by McKinney ISD officials to comply with the legislation will prohibit the use of personal communication devices during school hours, which is defined as the time the student enters the school building until the dismissal bell, and will also apply during lunch and passing periods, the release states.
District officials support students accessing their devices in the event of an emergency and students are also permitted to use devices before and after school, including during bus transportation, the district’s website states.
Students with documented health needs that require a device can also coordinate with the campus nurse to make arrangements to allow student device usage, the release states.
Devices issued by the district such as laptops and tablets will still be able to be used for instructional purposes.
The impact
The policy will be effective from August 12, the district’s first day of school for the 2025-26 school year, and the district’s student handbook has been updated to reflect that the Bring Your Own Device policy is no longer in place.
Details on disciplinary procedures for violations of the policy will be added to the student handbook in the next few weeks, the release states. Confiscated devices will be held in a secure location in the school’s front office, and will be returned to the student or picked up by a parent or guardian.
Parents and students can find additional information about the policy and its implementation at www.mckinneyisd.net/article/2329648.
