Education
BY THOMAS LEFFLER
Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD and Judson ISD are keeping in line with a new state mandate by prohibiting student use of communication devices throughout the school day. Both districts amended student code of conduct policies on personal communication devices and electronic devices to fall in line with House Bill 1481, which requires all Texas school districts to prohibit device use by students. Current situation According to updated policies, students must have the devices secured in backpacks and out of sight during school hours. This includes passing Local school districts update cell phone policies
Violations
State communication device policy overview House Bill 1481 requires students to store away cell phones and other devices during the school day.
Prohibited devices The following devices are among those banned on campus.
Judson ISD
Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD
Policy requires schools to prohibit students from bringing devices to campus, designate a secure storage method during the school day Devices include cell phones, tablets, smartwatches and “other devices capable of telecommunication or digital communication”
Policy must include disciplinary measures for violations
Device held in the front office, parent/guardian notified, only parent/guardian may pick up the device, behavior logged into student’s record
Verbal warning, parent/guardian contacted by teacher
1st
Cell phones
Tablets
Smart watches
Policy must make exceptions for student use of devices for, Section 504 plans, medical needs or district/ campus safety requirements
Confiscation for the day by administrator, parent/guardian contacted by administrator, device picked up by student
First offense penalties plus 1 day of In-School Suspension, or ISS
2nd
Paging devices
Radio devices
Personal laptops
SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: JISD, SCUCISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Second offense penalties plus device must be picked up by parent
3rd
First offense penalties plus 2 days of ISS
periods, lunches and in classes. Students violating the policy shall be subject to disciplinary action. Employees in both districts have the right to confiscate a student’s device if it is in violation of the policy. Exceptions to the pol- icies are made for students with an individualized education program, or IEP, or a Section 504 plan, for devices necessary for documented medical needs, or to comply with district and school safety
protocols. Offering input SCUCISD Superintendent Paige Meloni told Community Impact that, as a parent, she under- stands why other parents still want their children to have phones around. “I don’t think that we can say that the kids don’t need the phone on their person or in their
backpack, because parents want that comfort of knowing that they could get a hold of their child in an emergency situation,” Meloni said. JISD Superintendent Milton “Rob” Fields III said the district must be “consistent” with the mandate. “This is the law now, this is what we’ve been told ... when we spoke to the principals, we said that it cannot be seen nor heard,” Fields said.
Third offense penalties plus minimum 1 day of ISS (Grades 5-12)/1 day of detention (Grades PK- 4), behavior contract may be implemented
4th
First offense penalties plus 3 days of ISS
First offense penalties plus out of school suspension, behavior contract will be developed with the student
5th
Same as fourth offense
SOURCES: JISD, SCUCISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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