San Antonio districts are warning parents and students of the new Texas cellphone ban in public schools after House Bill 1481 passed in the state legislature this year. The bill prohibits cellphones, smart watches, tablets and other forms of “digital communication” during the school day.
According to the bill, public schools must stop their students from bringing their cell phones on school property or design a storage method. Schools must establish disciplinary measures if the ban is violated, such as taking away the phone. With schools starting soon, here’s the latest policy changes from the three largest San Antonio districts:
North East ISD cell phone rules
North East Independent School District requires all students to turn off and store out of sight their cell phones, smartwatches and electronic devices during instructional class time, the district wrote in a Facebook post on Friday, August 8. Students may use phones during non-classroom time, such as passing periods and lunch, or before and after school.
Minimum Consequences may include verbal warning, parent notification or conference, confiscation, detention and in-school suspension for repeated violations, according to the district’s 2025-2026 Student Code of Conduct…