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RISD updates student-device and opt-in rules under Texas House Bill 1481; badge program expanded
Summary
Citing changes from the 89th Texas Legislature, RISD announced a districtwide prohibition on personal communication devices during instructional hours and new parent opt-in/opt-out preferences for services. The district also expanded its student badge program and added bus scanning requirements.
Richardson ISD announced policy updates tied to the 89th Texas Legislative Session. Tab, RISD leader (identified in the transcript only by first name), said the district’s cell-phone policy was revised in response to House Bill 1481 to prohibit the use of all personal communication devices — including cell phones, smartwatches and tablets — on school property during the instructional day.
Tab said new state requirements also compel districts to collect explicit opt-in and opt-out preferences from parents and guardians for services such as access to health services, after-school clubs, counseling opportunities (K–5 and 7–12) and library services. He told families to watch for an email with instructions on how to select preferences for their students.
In the same set of updates, Tab described an expansion of the district’s badge program: all students must now wear a badge during the school day, and students who ride buses will be required to scan their badge when boarding and exiting to help ensure riders board the correct bus.
The district did not provide implementation timelines or enforcement details for the cell-phone prohibition or the badge-scanning requirement in these remarks; parents should expect follow-up communications with operational details.
