Tyler ISD Enforces New State Cell Phone Ban

(Tyler, Texas) The classroom during the 2025-2026 school year is going to look much different than the 2024-2025 classroom.

East Texas school districts are busy crafting new rules and amending the student handbook and code of conduct in time for the new school year to comply with a new state law.

Things that were once allowed in the classroom will no longer be allowed, and there will be consequences for those students who do not comply with the new rules and the law that went into effect in May 2025.

What House Bill 1481 Means for Texas Students

Approved by both the Texas House and Senate, House Bill 1481 requires school districts across Texas to develop a plan to enforce the new state law banning cell phones from use during instructional time and during school hours.

There was much debate over this bill, which continues to this day; however, lawmakers sided with the removal of electronic devices from the classroom so that students could focus on instructors, improve the classroom environment, and hopefully cut down on cyberbullying during class time.

What Devices Are Banned in the Classroom?

With the passage of the bill, cellphones, tablets, smartwatches, radio devices, paging devices, earbuds, and any other devices capable of telecommunication and digital communication is banned from the classroom.

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The Texas Education Association has been busy crafting guidelines for Texas school districts. Tyler ISD has released its plans and updated its cell phone and electronic device policy.

How Tyler ISD Is Enforcing the New Policy

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, students are not permitted to use their cell phones or other digital devices during school hours. If a student is in violation of this new policy, their phone will be confiscated. A parent must be present to retrieve the phone, and a fine will be levied.

Penalties will escalate for repeated violations, including possible in-school suspension or a hold on report cards, as well as parent conferences.

Tyler ISD has set these consequences for violation of the new policy:

Other school districts around East Texas will be releasing their versions for their student bodies.

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What Tyler ISD Parents Need to Know

Tyler ISD has also created an FAQ for parents and guardians that covers how to contact students during school hours, students using phones during lunch periods, paying any assessed fines, and students contacting parents during school hours.

There are many pros and cons to this new law. This is something not only teachers and administration are going to have to adjust to, but students and parents as well.