In an effort to curb technology usage in the class, which distracted students from learning, Texas state representatives passed House Bill 1481, which prohibits the use of personal communication devices by students on school property during the school day.

This drastic switch caused issues for students and staff alike as they learned to navigate what this would mean for the classroom and campus expectations, one of which senior Daniella Ramos said was “a positive thing.”

“I can’t really tell you anything I learned last year because I always had my phone out,” Ramos said. “In the classroom, I’ve noticed fewer distractions. You can see people interacting more with the lesson.”

Administrators said there have been positive changes to classrooms as a result of the mandate, though there has been an increase in disciplinary actions because of the switch from classroom management to a state policy.

“It’s a daily maintenance I have to deal with on a regular basis,” assistant principal Montrail Davis said. “It is a lot more to do have to keep track the the discipline that come with it. However, we see less of people being on their phone in class, students interact more, they talk more, and they’re able to focus more on instruction that’s going on in the class.”

Senior Reem Saleem said this ban has caused her to change how she completes her assignments, and she said one of her biggest concerns with the ban has to do with student safety.

“There is a lot of things you have to take into consideration when it comes to the phone ban, [but] I don’t think the phone ban really helped me,” Saleem said. “I think it would be better if the phone ban were just in classes. Kids should be able to have their phones in the hallway in case of an emergency.”