End the Texas School Phone Ban

The Issue

Texas recently passed a law banning cell phone use and personal devices in schools—even for high school students who are 18 or older. This law is not only unfair, it is unsafe. Phones are essential tools for communication, safety, and learning, yet students are being stripped of their ability to use them responsibly.

In the past year, Texas experienced 24 school shootings. My own community has already lost a student to gun violence, and nearby high schools—including mine—have faced multiple threats. In one lockdown situation, many students only knew it was a false alarm because of communication through text and social media. Official announcements simply weren’t fast enough.

Taking away phones does not make schools safer. It removes one of the few tools students can use to stay informed, reach loved ones, or call for help in emergencies.

Why This Ban Hurts Students

• Safety: Phones provide real-time information during lockdowns, threats, or emergencies.
• Learning: Students often rely on their own devices when district laptops block key resources like YouTube tutorials, news articles, or other educational sites. Without personal devices, many can’t complete assignments or access information effectively.
• Connection: Important school announcements—like senior events and deadlines—are shared digitally. Without phones, students risk missing opportunities that affect their future.
• Fairness: At 18, Texans are considered adults who can legally purchase firearms. Yet those same students are told they cannot be trusted to use a phone responsibly during school hours.

Our Demand
We urge Texas lawmakers and school leaders to:

• End the blanket ban on phones and personal devices in schools.
• Work with students and educators to create responsible use policies that balance learning with safety.
• Focus legislative efforts on addressing real threats to student safety—such as gun violence and mental health support—rather than restricting tools students depend on.

Phones are not distractions. They are lifelines. Texas students deserve fair, practical policies that reflect the world we live in today.