Cell phones
Texas House Bill 1481 was passed this legislative session, requiring all school systems to adopt and implement a policy prohibiting the use of personal communication devices by students on school property during the school day.
The law took effect on June 20, with school systems having until Sept. 18 to have a written policy in place.
What does the law specifically require?
Students cannot use personal communication devices on school property during the school day. This includes:
- Cell phones
- Tablets
- Smartwatches
- Laptops (not district-assigned)
- AirPods/headphones
- Smart glasses
Districts can either prohibit students from bringing devices to campus or designate a method to “securely store the devices during the school day,” according to the Texas Education Agency.
School districts across the state are handling this in different ways. While neighboring districts like Plano ISD require students to put phones in their backpacks during the school day, Dallas ISD is following the most common solution — implementing Yondr pouches.
School districts across the state are handling this in different ways. While neighboring districts like Plano Independent School District require students to put phones in their backpacks during the school day, Dallas ISD is following the most common solution — implementing Yondr pouches.
What are Yondr pouches?
The district started the cellphone-free policy at the beginning of the school year, with elementary school students’ devices stored by teachers and secondary students receiving Yondr pouches.
Each student is assigned a pouch, which locks when their phone is placed in it at the beginning of the school day. At the end of the day, students have access to a magnetic device to unlock the pouches.
How were Yondr pouches funded?
To support the implementation of the new law, the Texas Education Agency was allocated $20 million in state grant funding.
What if I need to contact my student?
Students are required to use the school’s front office or request assistance from a staff member in case of emergency, according to Dallas ISD. Exceptions are given to students who have a documented medical need by a qualified physician or an individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan requiring the use of a device. (i.e., needing continuous access to a cell phone that is connected to a glucose monitor for diabetic students).
What happens if students are caught on their phones?
The bill provides specific requirements for discipline. After the first offense, a parent/guardian can pick up the device without a fee, followed by a $5 increase in fee for additional offenses (no more than $15). After the second time, students can be sent to Disciplinary Alternative Education Placement.
Ten Commandments
Senate Bill 10 was passed this legislative session, requiring all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments in either a durable poster or a frame that is at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall and from the King James Version.
While the bill is currently being challenged in court by the ACLU of Texas on behalf of several families and school systems, school districts that did not join in on the injunction, including Dallas ISD, must comply. Those that did, including Austin ISD, Houston ISD and Plano ISD, are not required to comply while litigation is pending.
However, the Next Generation Action Network Legal Advocacy Fund filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of Texas alleging that the law violates the students’ First Amendment rights, listing Dallas, DeSoto and Lancaster school districts as defendants.
The new educational code does not require all districts to purchase said posters, but requires them to accept any donations that fit the requirements and put up the posters if they are donated or purchased, with no exceptions.
What does the law specifically require?
Every public school classroom is required to have a display of the Ten Commandments in either a durable poster or a frame that is:
In a size and typeface that is legible to a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom
At least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall
Written with the specific words/version specified in the bill (King James Version)
The new educational code does not require all districts to purchase said posters. If posters that fit the requirements are purchased or donated, however, districts are required to accept them and put them up in classrooms, with no exceptions.
Library Materials
Senate Bill 13, effective Sept. 1, amended the educational code to require schools to provide parental access to the catalog of available library materials at each school library in the district or school, allow said parent to create a list of materials their child is not permitted to check out and provide access to a list of materials that said child has checked out.
The school board must also approve all materials donated or procured by the school library,
The bill also required the board of trustees of each school district to establish a school library advisory council if 10% of the parents of the students enrolled in the district or at least 50 total parents petition the school board for the creation of such a council.
What qualifications are needed of the council members?
There must be a member appointed by each trustee. A majority of members must be parents who are not employed by the district, though nonvoting members who are classroom teachers, librarians, school counselors or administrators, a member of the business community or a member of the clergy may also be appointed.
