The new policy—which was approved by the board of trustees at its July 28 meeting—comes after the passage of House Bill 1481 during the 89th Texas Legislature. HB 1481 prohibits the use of cellphones, smartwatches and other personal communication devices throughout the school day for all Texas public schools.
What you need to know
If a student uses a personal device during the school day on school property, it will result in “confiscation of the device, return of the device at the end of the school day and notification to parents,” the district’s updated code of conduct—which was also approved at the board’s July 28 meeting—reads.
“We want to make sure when students leave us in the afternoon they have a method of communication whether they ride home on the bus, drive themselves or walking home, we want to make sure that they have that access to communicate if an emergency does occur,” Franklin Moses, CCISD’s assistant superintendent of secondary education, said at the meeting.
The details
Multiple offenses to the policy could result in in-school suspension and possible placement in the District Alternative Education Program.
Exceptions to this new policy include:
- The student’s use is necessary for implementation of the student’s individualized education program, a 504 plan, or a similar program or plan.
- The student’s use is required due to a documented need based on a directive from a qualified physician.
- The student’s use is necessary to comply with a health or safety requirement imposed by law or as part of the district or campus safety protocols.
“There’s a lot of things that we’re having to adjust as far as our school operation,” Moses said. “QR codes, getting information for clubs, things like that. Campuses are working diligently to put those things in place for the first day of school.”
Offering input
The new policy was approved unanimously by the board, which supported taking cellphones out of the classroom.
“I think it’s a good policy,” CCISD trustee Jessica Cejka said at the meeting. “I think it really is putting our focus back on education. I think we’re going to come out better in the end and really have the focus on learning, which is where it should be during the school day.”
Trustee Jonathan Cottrell acknowledged that the new policy may not be popular with everyone, but encouraged those with concerns to contact their local elected representatives.
“Legislation ... passed a law, and we have to help enforce that with our policy,” he said at the meeting. “Some people may not like it. You may want to reach out to your local elected representative, not your school board, because we’re doing what we’ve been told to do. And it comes with great purpose ... to help students with their interaction [and] improve instruction in the classroom.”
