Cellphones are “extremely harmful” to student learning and mental health, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath said Sept. 18. Morath encouraged state lawmakers to prohibit students from using cellphones in all Texas public schools.

“If it were in my power, I would’ve already banned them in schools in the state,” Morath said during a Senate Education Committee hearing. “So I would encourage you to consider that as a matter of public policy going forward for our students and our teachers.”

School districts across Texas have recently tightened their electronic device policies, with some requiring students keep cellphones, smart watches and headphones turned off and out of sight while on campus.

The details

Morath said he sees a relationship between student cellphone use and declining performance on state and national exams. From spring 2023 to spring 2024, the percentage of students demonstrating proficiency on the math portion of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness decreased for most grades.


State and local leaders are adopting new strategies to improve student performance. Some school administrators say banning or limiting cellphones will minimize distractions in classrooms, reduce disciplinary problems, boost student achievement and prevent bullying.

The following school districts in Community Impact's coverage area across Texas have recently updated their electronic device policies:What they’re saying

During the wide-ranging committee hearing Sept. 18, lawmakers asked Morath how they could address rising rates of mental health issues in students.

“One answer I would give you, which seems totally unrelated, is don’t let cellphones in schools, because it is not unrelated,” Morath said.


Some senators appeared open to the idea.

“Mental health is becoming a bigger and bigger issue... amongst our young people,” said Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio. “I like what you said about if we could get rid of the cellphones. I mean, it would help all of us if we could do that, but we can't. What would it look like?”

Morath pointed to school districts with existing cellphone restrictions, which range from complete bans to limiting when students can use their phones, such as during lunch or passing periods.

“It’s hard for a teacher to compete with YouTube or TikTok videos," said Keller ISD Superintendent Tracy Johnson during a July 25 school board meeting. “The majority of the disciplinary incidents are related to cellphones. This is us reclaiming our student learning environment.”


Looking ahead

Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, said lawmakers “will make an attempt” to ban cellphones in the classroom next year, but noted device policies are often more successful when tailored to a local school district.

“Everything doesn’t take legislation,” Campbell said. “It takes leadership.”

Campbell proposed a bill last year to prohibit cellphone use during classroom instruction, but the measure did not gain traction.


The 89th legislative session is set to begin Jan. 14.