Bill > HB1446

This bill requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to conduct a comprehensive study examining the effects of school district policies that prohibit students from using personal communication devices like cell phones while on school property. The study will compare schools with similar characteristics, including student population size, college and career readiness rates, special education and emergent bilingual student percentages, economic and gender demographics, and standardized test results. The TEA will assess how banning personal communication devices impacts various educational outcomes such as standardized test scores, teacher turnover rates, student dropout rates, college and career readiness, and teacher job satisfaction. The agency is encouraged to collaborate with other state agencies, schools, and organizations in conducting the research. By December 1, 2026, the TEA must submit a written report to state leadership, including the governor and legislature, detailing the study's findings and any recommended actions. The report will also be published on the agency's website. The bill specifies that the study and its associated provisions will expire on January 1, 2027, and will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Education

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1446