Phone-Free Schools: Texas’ Bell-to-Bell Cellphone Policy Takes Effect
Starting Fall 2025, Texas schools must restrict devices bell to bell—with state funding to help them get started.
Texas Mandates Phone-Free Classrooms by Fall 2025
This week in our Phone-Free Schools by State series, we’re heading to the Lone Star State, where Governor Greg Abbott has officially signed House Bill 1481 into law. The new legislation bans student use of personal communication devices in all public K–12 schools during the instructional day, effective September 18, 2025—with state funding available to help districts implement secure pouches and policy enforcement.
Policy Deadline: September 18, 2025
Phone-Free Schools Grant Program
IDC Application Opens: August 7th, 2025
Post Frequently Asked Questions to the TEA Page: September 4th, 2025
Application Deadline: September 8th, 2025
Awards Announced: September 23rd, 2025
Funding Applications for Grantees: October 1st, 2025
Funding priority given to rural, disadvantaged, 5-day-week districts
What must districts do?
By the 2025–26 school year, every district and open-enrollment charter must:
Prohibit student use and visible possession of phones, tablets, smartwatches, and other personal communication devices from bell to bell
Provide secure storage, such as Yondr’s unique, lockable pouch that prevents access during the school day
Outline disciplinary measures for violations (e.g., device confiscation, parent notification)
Allow exemptions for documented learning, medical, or safety needs
Local control remains central—districts can determine how best to store devices, enforce the policy, and structure daily procedures.
To support implementation, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released model guidance, including sample policy language and recommendations for secured storage and enforcement. Districts must adopt a written policy aligned with these requirements in accordance with the state deadline.
What State and Educational Leaders Are Saying
Texas’s new phone-free legislation has sparked strong support from both state lawmakers and education officials. Leaders agree that removing phones from classrooms is not just a disciplinary issue—it’s a way to reclaim focus, academic time, and student mental health.
Representative Caroline Fairly (R-Amarillo) has spoken about the urgent need to support educators facing social media-fueled distractions.
Representative Ellen Troxclair (R-Boerne) emphasized that bell-to-bell storage solutions, like Yondr, are producing the most powerful academic and behavioral results.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath made it clear he would’ve banned phones in schools long ago if given the authority—citing concern for both students and teachers.
And with new funding in place, district leaders across the state are now exploring structured storage solutions that help implement this policy consistently and effectively.
Early Results from Texas Schools
Texas districts already partnering with Yondr are seeing measurable gains—more instruction time, stronger student engagement, and significantly fewer classroom disruptions. With new state legislation now in place and funding allocated for storage solutions, more schools are exploring phone-free strategies that prioritize learning and restore focus.
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Serving over 37,000 students across 55 campuses, Richardson ISD expanded Yondr from one junior high to eight campuses, with strong results:
“In a single school year, we recaptured 168,000 hours of instructional time.”
—Eric Eager, School Board Member
“It wasn’t long ago we were having strong conversations about this Yondr pouch. Here we are praising the results.”
—Regina Harris, Board President
“If I gain just 10 extra minutes of instruction in my U.S. History class, that’s 29 hours more of teaching per year.”
—Tabitha Branum, Superintendent
“85% of teachers say they’re getting more instructional time with cell phones out of the classroom.”
—Reported by Fox 7 Austin
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This North Texas district rolled out Yondr pouches across its high schools. South Grand Prairie High School principal Larry Jones notes:
“We think it’s going to increase the social‑emotional learning opportunities for our students… allow them to communicate with their friends more, actually sit down and talk.” cbsnews.com
A staff survey showed that 91 % saw fewer classroom distractions, and 90% believed student engagement had improved (fox4news.com).
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Beaumont ISD is preparing for a full rollout of Yondr pouches to grades 6–12 in Fall 2025. Senior Director of Student Support Randall Maxwell said:
“It has been proven that when you use this tool, the Yondr pouch, discipline incidents go down… their mental health will improve by using these tools.” beaumontenterprise.com
The district allocated $250,000 for the rollout and began training principals this spring (kfdm.com).
The National Conversation
Texas is part of a nationwide movement to address rising concerns about classroom phone use. In a recent U.S. Congressional hearing, leading researchers and educators testified on the urgent need for phone-free environments—citing rising anxiety, disengagement, and teacher burnout.
Read the key takeaways:
Congressional Wake‑Up Call: Phone‑Free Schools Gain Bipartisan Praise
Supporting Teachers Starts with Supporting the Classroom
When classrooms run smoothly, everyone wins. Educators in phone-free environments report lower stress levels, more instructional time and far fewer classroom disruptions. Across the country, phone-free policies are reducing stress, restoring focus, and helping teachers reclaim meaningful instruction time.
Recent findings:
A pilot study from Auburn University found that teachers in a phone-free middle school reported increased social interaction among students and said the new environment made their work more meaningful and sustainable (Auburn University).
Research from Western Kentucky University found that the majority of teachers reported being distracted by students using their phones during class, impacting their ability to teach effectively (Western Kentucky University).
A 2024 Pew Research Center report cited by the NEA showed that 90% of teachers support banning phones during instructional time, with many linking phone use to increased teacher frustration and burnout (NEA.org).
As Texas districts prepare for this policy shift, it’s also a pivotal time to refocus students on academic engagement and restore the purpose that drives their teachers every day.
How Yondr Can Help Texas Schools Lead
Stay ahead of the game! As Texas's phone-free mandate nears, explore how Yondr’s Phone-Free Schools Program can help your district lead by example. Our tested, user-friendly solution works hand-in-hand with the state’s cellphone-free requirements, empowering students, educators, and families to build more focused, meaningful classroom experiences.
We provide:
Customized policy development tailored to your district’s needs
Comprehensive training and onboarding for staff, students, and parents
Secure, durable pouches that let students keep phones—without the distractions
Reliable unlocking infrastructure to ensure smooth daily operations
Ongoing support to guarantee long-term success
Join the growing number of Texas schools using Yondr to implement phone-free classrooms that support learning, reduce stress, and comply with new state requirements.
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