📵 The Texas Phone Ban: What It Means for Teachers and Learning

Howdy y’all! 🤠

When I was in high school (2008–2012), we had a phone ban too. If your teacher caught you using it, you got a warning the first time. The second time, you had to pay $15 to get it back. I never got caught, but I definitely spent too much time texting in class.

One teacher didn’t care, so I spent the entire hour on my phone instead of actually learning French. I did my work, but I missed a lot. I didn’t have the self-control to put my phone away, even when it cost me.

That experience stuck with me when I became a teacher.

What’s Happening in Texas

This year, Texas passed House Bill 1481, which requires all public schools to adopt a policy banning students from using personal communication devices during the school day. It includes cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, and other connected devices.

There are exceptions for students with medical or accessibility needs, such as those who rely on phone-connected glucose monitors or insulin pumps. Districts can include these accommodations through 504 or IEP plans.

The law takes effect during the 2025–2026 school year, though many districts have already started enforcing it early.

Not everyone agrees with the policy. Some parents worry about not being able to reach their children in emergencies. Others raise school-safety concerns, saying phones can help students contact parents or authorities faster in crisis situations.

My hometown is about an hour from Uvalde, so that tragedy hit very close to home. Every time I visit my parents, I pass the memorial where families still bring flowers. It’s heartbreaking, and I completely understand why parents want that layer of reassurance.
🕊️ In memory of the lives lost in Uvalde, Texas. May we always strive to make schools safer for every child. 🤍

Even with those concerns, I support the ban.

What I Saw in My Classroom

When I started teaching, I promised myself to begin every year firm. I said, “No phones in class,” and I meant it.

Phones were one of the hardest distractions to manage. Students would watch movies, scroll through TikTok, or text the entire class period. I used to say, “Hand it over, and you’ll get it back at the end of class,” but that always led to arguments. “It’s my phone.” “My mom needs to text me.” It became a daily battle.

Not every student struggled, but the few who did could completely derail a lesson.

And it’s not like I was lecturing for an hour straight. My teaching style was based on chunking — short, focused bursts of learning. We’d do five minutes of notes, a few guided examples, and then practice problems together. (You can read more about that approach in my post The Homework Debate (and How My Perspective Changed).)

Even with that structure, many students couldn’t go ten minutes without checking their phones. Their attention spans were getting shorter each year.

This is a preview of a classroom set of rules that I'm currently working on.

The Bigger Picture

In my classroom, we had everything we needed: paper, pencils, graphing calculators, and collaboration. Phones added nothing useful.

During the pandemic, when students were issued laptops, those became another hurdle. Some forgot them, broke them, or showed up with dead batteries. Others used them for games or social media instead of assignments.

It was a constant tug-of-war for focus. Some teachers enforced rules, others didn’t, and administrators were often split. It made consistency nearly impossible.

Then came things like DoorDash. Students would order food in the middle of class and walk to the office to pick it up. It became a major distraction, not just for the teacher but for everyone.

Phones were giving students freedom they weren’t ready to handle. And when some kids ignored expectations, it affected everyone’s learning environment.

Why I’m Hopeful

I know this policy won’t fix everything, but I believe it’s a step in the right direction. I hope it helps students relearn patience, attention, and presence.

I trust that schools will make thoughtful plans for emergencies and medical needs. And as a parent now, I want these rules to exist when my son, Santiago, is older.

I want him to grow up understanding balance and boundaries — that sometimes putting the phone away is the best way to stay connected to what really matters.

💬 Let’s Reflect

Do you agree with the Texas phone ban? How have devices affected learning in your classroom or your child’s school?

Stay grounded, koalas. 🐨

Daniela

🧩 Related Resources

Here are a few engaging, device-free activities that keep students focused and learning without distractions:

⭐ Correlation, Causation, & Linear Regression | Algebra Activity
⭐ BUNDLE Polynomial Operations Coloring | Simplifying Expressions
⭐ BUNDLE | LINEAR, QUADRATIC, & EXPONENTIAL Function Fact & Fib Finder

Thanks for reading! You can find all my math resources on 
👉 Teachers Pay Teachers | Math with Mrs. DOT
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