Humble ISD bans cellphones in line with state mandate From the cover
National phone and social media use in the classroom According to a December 2024 report from The Pew Re- search Center, increases in social media use correlate with increases in anxiety prevalence for individuals ages 18-25.
Diving deeper
The overview
According to HISD’s new cellphone policy, students are required to put their devices away when entering the school building and keep them out of sight, turned o or silenced, and unused for the duration of the school day—including during lunch and passing periods. While HISD elementary students have always had to put their cellphones away, middle and high school teachers could previously choose to allow students to have their phones out during class, Mount said. Under the new policy, all students will be largely held to the same standard. Mount said she believes many teachers through- out the district believe the ban will help students focus more on school work in the classroom. “It can be really hard for students to focus on their schoolwork if they are also thinking about text messages, group chats, social media posts, streaming music and entertainment,” Mount said. “With the new law, all schools and teachers will have the same expectations about personal devices, making the rules consistent for all students.”
Like other Texas school districts, Humble ISD is responding to a state bill approved this summer that restricts student usage of cellphones and other personal devices during the school day. House Bill 1481 requires school districts to adopt policies prohibiting students from using personal wireless communication devices—including cellphones, tablets, smartwatches and any other devices capable of digital communication or telecommunication—on school property during the school day. Wanda Longoria, secretary-treasurer of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, said she believes a cellphone ban should be carried out deliberately, carefully and in constant communication with parents, educators and administrators. “Instead, we received a state mandate that reshapes school policies that are being implemented in school districts across the state of Texas in a very scrambled way,” Longoria said. In July, HISD trustees approved a new policy in line with state regulations prohibiting students from using their devices on school property from the moment they enter the building to the nal dismissal bell. While the policy provides exceptions for students with documented needs such as individualized education plans, Section 504 plans or directives from qualied physicians, HISD Chief Communications Ocer Jamie Mount said some concerns have been raised about access to digital learning. “We hear these concerns and are working with teachers and principals to make sure students have access to devices managed by the district,” Mount said. House Bill 1481 • Students must keep devices away or in a backpack during the school day. • Exceptions can be made for medical and safety reasons. Humble ISD • Middle and high school students must keep personal devices in a pocket, backpack, handbag or purse during the school day.
53% of school leaders feel students’ academic perfor- mance is being negatively impacted by cellphone usage.
72% of school leaders feel cellphones can have a negative impact on students’ mental health.
95% of teens report having access to a smartphone.
77% of public schools nationwide have a policy restricting cellphones.
38% of teens ages 13-17 say they spend too much time on their phones.
39% increase in social media use for eighth, 10th and 12th graders from 2008-2015 150% increase in anxiety prevalence for those ages 18-25 from 2008-2022 71.7% decrease in time spent with friends for those ages 15-24 from 2003-2020
SOURCES: THE ANXIOUS GENERATION, THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS, THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER COMMUNITY IMPACT
Also of note
Breakdown of nationwide teen internet usage, ages 13-17 Almost constantly Several times a day
About once a day
According to a December 2024 report from the Pew Research Center, most teens use social media and have a smartphone, and nearly half say they’re online almost constantly. While internet access and technology use is rising, HISD Position 5 trustee Elizabeth Shaw said it’s become a necessity for many students due to a largely digital curriculum. During the board’s Aug. 12 meeting, Shaw said the bill could have a negative impact because the district currently has roughly one computer for every two students. She said the district will need to gure out how students will access assign- ments, take notes, conduct research and complete projects without a consistent and reliable device. “This has created confusion, disruption and, frankly, inequality,” Shaw said. “The 2-to-1 system may have been manageable before. It’s not now.” HISD Chief Technology Ocer Chris Cummings said while the district does have at least one com- puter for every two students, some schools are closer to 1-to-1 because ocials used campus bud- gets, Title 1 federal funds, grants and donations to
3%
20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
12%
47%
56%
24%
46%
0%
2015
2024
SOURCE: PEW RESEARCH CENTER COMMUNITY IMPACT
buy additional devices in recent years. Mount said the district is already in the process of determining how to get the district to a 1-to-1 device policy, noting the cost of achieving that ratio would exceed the cost of purchasing devices. “Costs and device numbers are being com- piled,” Mount said. “For successful implementa- tion, there would be additional costs associated with increasing the capacity of the district Wi-Fi network, supporting more devices and replacing them over time.”
• Elementary students must keep any personal communication devices in a purse, handbag or backpack during the school day. • Exceptions apply for medical and safety reasons.
SOURCES: HUMBLE ISD, TEXAS LEGISLATURE COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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