During the 89th Legislative Session, Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 1481 (HB 1481), which bans student use of personal communication devices during school hours. This policy will go into effect August 13, 2025, and applies to all students in grades PK-12. 🔗 https://5il.co/3mspz
What does this mean?
Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, students will be expected to keep all personal communication devices turned off and stored in backpacks during the school day. These include, but are not limited to:
Cell phones
Smartwatches
Radios or pagers
Personal tablets or laptops
Any device capable of telecommunication or digital communication
Why is this important?
This new law supports a learning environment that is:
Focused and distraction-free
Calm and conducive to academic success
Supportive of student well-being and positive social interactions
How can I help as a parent or guardian?
Talk about the policy:
Explain why it exists.
Let them know it’s a state law (HB 1481), not just an RISD rule.
Set expectations at home:
Discuss the importance of following school rules and understand that there will be consequences if the rule is not followed.
Encourage responsibility and respect for school policies and state law.
Plan communication:
Let your child know that you can contact the school office. All classrooms have phones.
Ensure that your student has important numbers on hand.
Make sure that your parent and emergency contact numbers are up to date in Skyward.
Thank you for partnering with Royal ISD to support focused, effective learning for every student.