Whether cell phones should be allowed in the classroom is a topic often debated among educators and students. While students tend to argue that they should be allowed because they can be useful tools for communication and learning, and that their benefits outweigh the harm, over 70% of U.S. high school teachers, according to Pew Research Center, agree that phones are a major distraction in their classrooms. In fact, a majority of school districts in the U.S. have cell phone policies implemented to address this issue.
Previously, in Texas schools, cell phone policies were often slightly different depending on the district, as there was no uniform, statewide policy on cell phone usage in the classroom. However, this school year, after the passing of Texas House Bill (HB) 1481, every school district has now completely banned the use of cell phones during school hours.
On June 20, House Bill 1481 officially took effect after the 89th Legislative Session, where Texas legislators gathered in Austin, Texas, and proposed, discussed, and passed several new bills. Among them was HB 1481, a bill that bans the use of personal communication devices during the school day in all Texas public schools and open-enrollment charter schools.
According to the Texas Education Agency, a personal communication device is “any wireless electronic communication device…capable of transmitting and/or receiving data,” which includes cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches. Every school is required to have a policy that either bans students from bringing these devices to school or establishes a system in which student devices are kept stored during the school day.
In Frisco ISD, students are advised to leave their devices at home, but if they choose to bring them to school, they must be shut off and stay in their backpacks from the first bell to the dismissal bell. This policy took effect on August 13, the first day of the 2025-2026 school year. Regarding exceptions to the policy, the FISD website states that “FISD will consider exceptions for students who require a device related to their IEP, 504, or as a health-related requirement as ordered by a licensed physician.”
With this new policy, this school year has looked a little different. No more MacBooks, iPads, or AirPods, no more texting friends or family between classes, no more scrolling on social media during lunch, and not a single phone pocket holder in sight in any classrooms, as they now serve no purpose. Because of the many changes, students have had to make a couple of adjustments.
“I’ve had to adjust a lot,” said junior Anushree Dindukurthi. “I’ve started bringing more things to school. I started bringing a lot more folders and stuff because before, I kind of kept some of my schoolwork on my phone. But I feel like I’m starting to print stuff out now, especially for some other classes.”
To Dindukurthi, there are both advantages and disadvantages to the new policy. On the plus side, she feels as though she has become more social, which has made it easier to make new friends; however, like many students last year, Dindukurthi used her phone as a tool to destress or communicate with her family, but she is unable to do so now. “Last year, if I was ever stressed, I would just take a break and chill on my phone for like two minutes. Or, I would call my mom, but I can’t do that now,” she said.
For, senior, Taylor Beringer, there are also positives and negatives about the phone policy. “I’m kind of in the middle on phone policy,” she said. “In the classroom, I totally get it. That’s completely fine. But in the hallways when we’re walking to our next class? I feel like we should be able to at least listen to music or something on the way there.”
Nevertheless, Beringer is adapting well to the policy as she shared that the only adjustment she’s had to make is that she has to use her school-issued laptop instead of her personal laptop, which is a bit slower, but she is adjusting and getting the hang of it.
According to the Texas Education Agency’s Guidance Document for HB 1481 Implementation, the personal communication device ban seeks to mitigate the “harmful effects of cell phone and social media use on student well-being and academic progress.”
When asked if she believes that the policy is effective in minimizing these distractions in the classroom, senior Sahasra Swargam believes it is. With phones and all personal devices gone, students only have their school-issued laptops to use. “You don’t really have anything other than just your Chromebook, where everything is also blocked on your Chromebook,” she said. “So, you’re kind of forced to lock in.”
With many mixed opinions and sentiments regarding the policy, it will be interesting to see how the policy progresses this school year and how it may or may not change in the future.