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Waco ISD amends student device policy to comply with HB 1481; districts to require phones off and out of sight
Summary
To comply with House Bill 1481, the board amended local policy FNCE to require personal communication devices be turned off and stored out of sight from building entry until exit; exceptions include IEP/504 or medical documentation. Administration will publish the stepwise consequences in the student code of conduct before school starts.
The Waco ISD Board of Trustees voted July 22 to amend local policy FNCE to satisfy state House Bill 1481 requirements, restricting student use of personal communication devices while on school property during the school day.
Administrators explained the change is an expansion of existing policies requiring phones to be off and out of sight, and that the district must now codify consequences. "As we've already referenced, all personal communication devices will be turned off, stored out of sight during the school day while in the building and not be removed until leaving the school building as specified in our student code of conduct," a presenter said. The policy will still include exceptions for students with IEPs, 504 plans or documented medical needs.
Staff said the student code of conduct will list the procedural steps for handling violations (first offense, second offense, documentation codes) and that communications will be sent to families via website and ParentSquare. Trustees emphasized that this amendment implements state law rather than a district initiative and asked staff to include contact information for state representatives in parent materials.
