2025-2026 MVISD Cell Phone Guidelines
August 8, 2025
Dear MVISD Parents and Staff,
Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we implement the requirements of House Bill 1481 regarding student cell phone use during the school day.
As shared in our previous communication, Medina Valley ISD will begin the school year requiring students to turn off all personal electronic devices—including cell phones, smartwatches, wireless/bluetooth earbuds, tablets and laptops—and keep them stored in their backpacks from the first bell to the dismissal bell.
To help support consistent implementation of the law, the district will be adding locking pouches at our secondary campuses in the next several weeks. The signal-blocking pouches will serve as a tool to help support our students and staff and to ensure a more focused learning environment.
We understand there will be many questions about the rollout of the pouches and how they will be used on our secondary campuses. Please know that our team is actively working on a full implementation plan and will continue to provide updates as more details are finalized. For now, our focus is on the start of the school year and ensuring that all students understand the expectation to keep their personal devices turned off and stored in their backpacks from the first bell to the last bell, including during lunch, recess, and passing periods.
To support consistency and accountability, the following consequences will be in place for students who do not follow the policy:
Secondary (Grades 6–12):
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- 1st Offense: Device is confiscated and stored for student pick-up at the end of the school day. The student will serve two days of lunch detention.
- 2nd Offense: Device is confiscated and stored for parent/guardian pick-up after school. The student will serve one day of after-school detention.
- 3rd Offense: Device is confiscated and stored for parent/guardian pick-up after school. The student will serve one day of in-school suspension (ISS) and may lose the opportunity for semester exemptions. A parent/guardian conference with campus administration will be required.
- 4th Offense: Device is confiscated and stored for parent/guardian pick-up after school. The student will serve three days of ISS, in addition to the requirements outlined for a third offense.
- 5th Offense: Device is confiscated and stored for parent/guardian pick-up after school. The student will be assigned DAEP for 15 days.
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Elementary (Grades PK–5):
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- 1st Offense: Device is confiscated and stored for student pick-up at the end of the school day. The student will receive a warning and the parent/guardian will be notified.
- 2nd Offense: Device is confiscated and stored for parent/guardian pick-up after school. The student will serve one day of lunch detention.
- 3rd Offense: Device is confiscated and stored for parent/guardian pick-up after school. The student will serve one day of lunch detention, and a parent/guardian conference with campus administration will be required.
- 4th and Subsequent Offenses: Device is confiscated and stored for parent/guardian pick-up after school. The student will serve in-school suspension (ISS) for each offense, and a parent/guardian conference with campus administration will be required.
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If a student refuses to turn over a personal communication device that is not in their backpack during the school day, they will be considered defiant and in violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Additional disciplinary action may be taken, including ISS, OSS, or placement in an alternative education program.
As we move forward with this new process, we ask for your continued patience, understanding, and partnership. Implementing a change of this scale will take time, and we know that questions and challenges may arise along the way. Please know that we are committed to working through them together—with our students, staff, and families—as we all adjust to this new expectation. Our shared goal is to create a learning environment that is focused, safe, and supportive for every student. Thank you for being a part of this effort.
For more details—including FAQs, exceptions to the policy, or to submit a question—please visit our website at www.mvisd.com/cellphones.
Sincerely,
Scott Caloss, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Message from the Superintendent - July 30, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – HB 1481 and the MVISD Cell Phone Guidelines
This is not a district decision—it is required by House Bill 1481, a new Texas law. HB 1481 requires all Texas school districts to restrict student use of personal communication devices (such as cell phones, smartwatches, and tablets) during the school day.
All personal devices must be turned off and stored in backpacks from the first bell until the dismissal bell.
This applies to:
- Cell phones
- Smartwatches
- Tablets and personal laptops
- Any other personal electronic communication device
The purpose of this new law is to:
- Reduce distractions during class
- Increase student engagement
- Allow teachers to focus on instruction
No. HB 1481 requires that devices remain off and stored throughout the entire school day, including during lunch, recess, and passing periods.
If you need to contact your child, please call the school’s front office. Direct dial phone numbers to all district campuses can be found at the bottom of each campus website.
In case of an emergency, we will follow all campus and district safety procedures to ensure the safety of our students.
Students with documented medical or special education needs that require device access will be allowed to use their personal device as outlined in their plan. Parents should work with the school nurse and campus administration to ensure this accommodation is in place.
Failure to comply will result in consequences outlined in the district’s Student Code of Conduct and Student Handbook (which will be shared with parents by the start of the school year). Each campus will have established disciplinary consequences, which is also a requirement of HB 1481.
We will monitor implementation throughout the year and make adjustments as needed to ensure effectiveness.
Parents play an important role in making this policy successful. Please talk with your child at home about these expectations so that we can all work together to create focused, distraction-free classrooms.
No. The law applies during the official school day. Students may use their personal devices while riding the bus before and after school.
Does this apply during after-school programs, such as athletics or tutoring?
No. Before the first bell and after the dismissal bell, personal devices may be used.
What if my child refuses to turn over their personal communication device?
Refusing to surrender a device is considered defiance and a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. An administrator will intervene, and additional disciplinary action may be taken, including suspension or placement in an alternative education program.
Where are confiscated devices stored?
Confiscated devices are kept in a locked and secure location in the campus office and are only handled by authorized staff.
Is the district responsible for damage or loss of phones?
No. MVISD is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal devices, including those that are confiscated. Students and families are encouraged to leave valuables at home or use devices responsibly and in accordance with district policy.
What if my child does not have a backpack to stow the device(s)?
The student will need to report to administration and the device can be stored at the front office.
Can my student wear a smart watch even if its not connected to a device?
If a watch has the ability to be used as a personal communication device, it violates HB 1481, and therefore cannot be used. The smartwatch should be stored in the backpack.
Does the new law apply to teachers as well?
HB 1481 only applies to students.
