During the 89th session, the Texas legislature overwhelmingly passed and the governor signed House Bill 1481, prohibiting the use of personal wireless communication devices during the school day.
What is included as a wireless communication device? Cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, Bluetooth earbuds and headphones, and any other device capable of digital communication. This law does not include a device provided to students by the school for instructional purposes.
What is considered the school day? The school day begins when students arrive at our schools and ends when they leave our facilities at the conclusion of the school day.
We encourage students and families to keep these personal communication devices at home. If parents send their children to school with a personal communication device, the expectation is that the devices will be powered off and stored in the student's backpack.
Students not complying with these expectations in violation of state law will have their communication devices confiscated and be subject to school discipline. The device will only be returned to the parent through the front office of the child's campus.
Parents, we encourage you to begin discussing this new law and its implications with your student(s) to help them prepare for the upcoming changes. Encourage responsibility and respect for school policies/law. Additionally, make sure Parent and Emergency Contact numbers are up to date in Skyward Family Access.
As always, we appreciate your support and involvement as we move forward together in implementing this new state requirement.
The subsequent actions will be taken for failing to comply with the law:
August 13 - August 29 to allow student learning:
1st Offense - the device is confiscated, parent is contacted, the device is returned to the student after 3:45.
2nd Offense - the device is confiscated, student is assigned 1 day ISS (High School - loss of exemption comes with this placement), parent conference in person for device pick up.
3rd Offense - the device is confiscated, student is assigned 3 days ISS, parent conference in person for device pick up.
4th Offense - the device is confiscated, student is assigned 10 Days ISS, parent conference in person for device pick up.
5th Offense - the device is confiscated, student is assigned DAEP placement, parent conference in person for device pick up.
Any subsequent offenses will result in additional placements at DAEP.
Beginning September 2, after the transitional period:
1st Offense - the device is confiscated, student is assigned 1 day ISS (High School - loss of exemption comes with this placement), parent conference in person for device pick up.
2nd Offense - the device is confiscated, student is assigned 3 days ISS, parent conference in person for device pick up.
3rd Offense - the device is confiscated, student is assigned 10 Days ISS, parent conference in person for device pick up.
4th Offense - the device is confiscated, student is assigned DAEP placement, parent conference in person for device pick up.
Any subsequent offenses will result in additional placements at DAEP.