The need for cell phone access during school hours is not about posting selfies to Instagram or beating a high score on Minecraft, according to teenagers at Conroe ISD. The youth say they want access to their devices so they can stay connected with their parents in case of a medical emergency or an active shooter.
Fifteen-year-old Norma Kean started a Change.org petition on June 18 asking school board members to lift a K-12 cell phone ban for students during school hours. The ban, mandated by a new state law, becomes effective for Texas public schools on September 1.
Kean’s petition, as of Tuesday, had 3,056 verified signatures. Conroe ISD is one of the largest districts in Texas, serving about 73,000 students. Under the new state law, public schools and open-enrollment charter schools must have policies regarding cell phone use during the school day, enacting either a complete ban or a designated storage space. Therefore, the request to “lift” the ban, as outlined in the petition, isn’t really an option.
“The law came from the state, but local districts aren’t powerless,” Kean said. “Conroe ISD has the ability to shape how the policy is implemented, by making exceptions, allowing site-based flexibility, and creating guidelines that actually reflect student needs and realities.”
Conroe ISD board president Misty Odenweller did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The student cell phone ban outlined in House Bill 1481 was authored by Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo, and received overwhelming support from the Texas House, which voted 136-10 to approve it in April. The Texas Senate passed it unanimously in May.
According to lawmakers, the intent behind the ban, which is already active in nine states, is to remove distraction and allow students to focus and engage in the classroom and to reduce cyberbullying. A Conroe Republican, Sen. Brandon Creighton, carried the bill in the Senate.
“Texas educators have increasingly voiced concerns about cell phones disrupting the classroom, and the data backs them up,” Creighton said in a press release. “Over 70 percent of national high school teachers say that cell phone distraction is one of the major problems that cause disruption.”
School districts can decide where students can store their phones during the day and what disciplinary measures they want to pursue for those who break the rules. According to reports, students who need their phones for medical or safety reasons will be allowed to keep them, but it’s unclear how those needs will be determined.
Kean, a ninth grader at the Academy for Science and Health Professions, said it was important to speak up because something “didn’t feel right” about the cell phone ban.
“My mom has serious medical issues and has to go to the hospital often, so communication during the school day is essential for peace of mind,” she said. “It’s not just about convenience. It’s about safety, communication and learning. Emergencies, like a health crisis or a school threat, don’t wait for permission.”
Kean said she also has a strict parent who tracks her phone for safety.
“If it’s powered off or taken, that causes real stress at home. In my German I class, we don’t have Chromebooks due to lack of funding, so we rely on phones to complete assignments,” she said. “Plus, I’m involved in sports medicine and other clubs. If a game gets canceled or plans change, I need to be notified immediately, not at the last second. Phones are how we stay informed and responsible.”
Rice University political science professor Mark Jones told the Houston Press in May that some advocacy groups lobbied for more clarity and exceptions in the legislation but it didn’t face widespread opposition.
“There are some opponents, but I think there are some pretty good rebuttals that the last thing you want your child doing if there is a mass shooter event is talking on the phone,” Jones said. “You would also not want 50 different students calling 911 simultaneously, giving somewhat different accounts. We’re also talking about something that is hopefully an extremely rare occurrence versus the daily adverse effects of having phones in the classrooms.”
If state legislators want to police local school districts, there are bigger issues facing the youth at Conroe campuses, such as vaping and nutrition, Kean said.
“We have vape detectors, but they’re ineffective,” she said. “I’ve personally seen a group of girls vaping in a wide-open bathroom right across from the counselor’s office. Nothing was done.
“And the food situation isn’t much better. I’ve seen undercooked chicken, had to pay extra for a full-sized water, and opened fruit packs with barely any slices inside. These are issues that affect our health and daily learning, yet they don’t get the same focus.”
The students haven’t gotten any feedback from decision makers on the school board but Kean said 3,000 signatures on the petition in just a week’s time “speaks volumes.”
“We’re asking for a policy that makes sense, one that includes exceptions for safety, learning needs, and extracurricular responsibilities,” she said. “We’re hoping the school board will recognize that students want to be part of the solution, not treated like the problem. This isn’t just a few students speaking out. It’s a district-wide call for change.”
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.
