From: everythinglubbock.com
Lubbock-Cooper ISD said Thursday it was prohibiting the use of cell phones in school, following the recent passing of Texas House Bill 1481. Effective at the start of the 2025-26 school year, LCISD will require all students to leave their personal communication devices at home or power them off and store them away and out of sight while on school property during the school day.
Read the full statement from LCISD below:
In June, the Texas Legislature passed HB 1481, regarding student use of personal communication devices. The act requires boards of trustees of school districts to adopt, implement, and ensure the district or school complies with a written policy prohibiting a student from using a personal communication device while on school property during the school day. The policy must establish disciplinary measures to be imposed for violation of the prohibition.
The act requires that the policy must either:
A) Prohibit a student from bringing a personal communication device on school property; or
B) Designate a method for the storage of a student’s personal communication device while the student is on school property during the school day.
The LCISD Board of Trustees chose to implement a policy designating a method for the storage of a student’s personal communication device while the student is on school property during the school day rather than banning student personal communication devices from campuses entirely.
Beginning with the start of the 2025-26 school year, Lubbock-Cooper ISD will require all students to leave their personal communication devices at home or power them off and store them away and out of sight while on school property during the school day.
The school day begins at the signal of the first bell and ends at the signal of the dismissal bell, and includes tutorial periods, all instructional time, lunch, and passing periods.
A personal communication device includes a telephone, cell phone such as a smartphone or flip phone, tablet, smartwatch, radio device, paging device, gaming devices, earbuds or headphones, or any other electronic device capable of telecommunication or digital communication. Earbuds or headphones may be permitted by a classroom teacher for instructional use only. Devices provided by the district are not subject to this restriction.
Students may use personal communication devices only if required by the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Individual Accommodation Plan, or if the student has a documented medical directive for use of a personal communication device from a qualified physician.
You can review the policy in full, along with administrative procedures, disciplinary consequences, and FAQs at https://www.lcisd.net/page/personal-communication-device-policy?fbclid=IwY2xjawL4Z85leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5Q3d4blh5VTJ3cFl1akdjAR5Vpi7a421L_h2TCXlGJF2dPDfXrAHwIhJvoDiz15iI7ws3iWhovZJNPW2t2A_aem_mu8X2jVJE0btqm-Hfupfqw.