The board will also consider a policy that changes how the district chooses and reviews books and learning materials.
Key updates in this policy—which are also from new state bills—include more parental rights, new procedures for public challenges and appeals, required board approval for certain materials and additional transparency provisions, according to board agenda documents.
What you need to know
The proposed new cellphone policy, also known as Policy FNCE (LOCAL), aligns with House Bill 1481, which requires school districts across Texas to adopt a written policy that prohibits students from using personal communications devices during the school day, according to district documents.
PISD’s new proposed policy notes that students must store any personal communications device based on administrative regulations. If the policy is violated, students will be subject to discipline based on the board-adopted code of conduct.
Some exceptions to the proposed policy include:
- If the device is necessary based on a student’s individualized education program, a 504 plan or similar program or plan
- If a documented need is presented based on a directive from a qualified physician
- If the use is necessary to comply with a health or safety requirement imposed by law or as part of the district or campus safety protocols
On the other hand
Another new policy the board will consider is Policy EFB (LOCAL), which will govern the selection, access and review of instructional and library materials, according to district documents.
The proposed policy aligns with Senate Bill 13, which was passed in the 88th Texas Legislature in 2023, and expands parental rights to review and question instructional materials used in the district, district documents note.
The proposed policy also includes House Bill 900, which passed in the 88th Texas Legislature but was blocked by a federal court just before taking effect in 2023 due to “unconstitutionally vague standards,” according to the Texas Library Association.
HB 900, also known as the READER Act, would regulate “sexually explicit” and “sexually relevant” materials in public school libraries by requiring library material vendors to rate and even recall books, according to TLA.
While the bill is currently blocked, the district is incorporating it alongside SB 13 for legal preparedness in case the bill goes into effect, according to district documents.
Stay tuned
The policies will be considered at the board’s July 22 board meeting at 5 p.m. at the Virgil Gant Education Support Center, located at 1928 N. Main St., Pearland.
