Overview

• Statewide enforcement bars cellphones, tablets and smartwatches for over 5 million Texas public and charter school students throughout the instructional day.
• Houston ISD’s updated policy requires staff to confiscate a first-offense device until parent pickup, extend holds for repeat infractions and pursue disciplinary action on a third violation.
• Students with IEPs, 504 plans or medical monitoring requirements will retain access through accommodations determined by their ARD or 504 committees.
• Pennsylvania senators Devlin Robinson and Vincent Hughes introduced a bipartisan bill to bar phones during school hours, citing links to distraction, lower test scores and mental health risks.
• Parkland Health psychologist Josh Briley warns that students may face short-term withdrawal effects such as anxiety, depression and irritability when adjusting to device-free school days.