(Austin) — When kids head back to school this month, they will need to leave their cell phones at home. Cell phones, under most situations, are now going to be banned from public schools in Texas.
Governor Greg Abbott recently signed legislation to restrict cell phones in schools.
“Educators and researchers have raised concerns about the impact that smartphones have on student learning and student engagement,” said Governor Abbott. “Experts have explained that smartphones and social media affect the mental health of children. If we are going to be number one in education, it is going to require the undivided attention of our students in the classroom.”
Abbott says the ban is cheered by teachers, who are tired of seeing their kids getting sidetracked by text messages and social media.
“Teachers report that phones are a persistant source of distraction in the classroom,” said Abbott.
He says that’s why the ban is a good idea for Texas public schools. He says this should help to improve the overall performance of Texas students.
“They hinder instruction time, and they undermine academic performance,” said Abbott.
The bill orders schools and districts to craft their own phone policies. They can either be stored during the school day or banned on campus. There will be exceptions for those who need them for health care reasons.
The governor also signed a bill known as the App Store Accountability Act, which requires application (app) stores to verify a user’s age when creating an account. A minor’s account must be affiliated with a parent’s account and parental consent is required before a minor can download or purchase an app or make in-app purchases.