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Elgin Independent School District students may soon be walking around with lighter pockets if a formal restriction on classroom cellphones gains traction this legislative session.
House Bill 515, introduced by Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway, would prohibit student phone use from the first bell to the last. Elgin ISD Superintendent Jana Rueter has been closely monitoring the measure, she told the Courier in a recent interview.
“That is something that I’m hearing about on the commissioner’s cabinet… We anticipate there’s probably going to be legislation that’s just going to put it back on districts to create a policy for it,” Rueter said.
Troxclair cites concerns about social media’s impact on mental health, among other classroom productivity issues—concerns Rueter acknowledged.
While Elgin ISD does not currently ban phones outright, Rueter said they can be a major distraction on campus.
“I know we deal, a lot of times, with issues that arise from kids using their phones—even discipline issues or things that can happen because social media is not a positive thing for students. It’s just not,” she added.
Under the proposal, districts would adopt a system to lock away phones during the school day, with exceptions for emergencies. Many districts already enforce some form of cellphone policy.
Troxclair cited Killeen Independent School District, which uses lockable neoprene pouches for student devices.
“The results we’ve seen have been just absolutely amazing,” she said. “The burden of enforcement has been left up to teachers and (that) makes their job nearly impossible. It’s common sense that our classrooms should be for learning and not for social media.”
Supporters of the measure argue it would reduce bullying, cheating and the harmful effects of social media. Critics maintain that students need quick access to parents and law enforcement, particularly during crises. They point to the May 2024 mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, where many students used their phones to call for help.
Both sides have valid points, according to Rueter, but she noted phones can also cause problems during emergencies, potentially derailing official communication efforts.
“If it were a true emergency, I don’t want my kid on a phone. I want them to listen to the adults telling them what to do. It also clogs up the signals,” Rueter said, recalling a recent incident. “We couldn’t even get texts through to each other, and that’s scary.”
According to Troxclair, some law enforcement agencies also support cellphone bans because mobile devices can spread false threats or rumors, causing panic and misdirection on campus.
For now, Elgin teachers typically ask students to stow phones during class, and most comply, according to district officials.
While the superintendent said she completely understands parents’ concerns about safety and the importance of being able to reach their children, the constant presence of social media on phones creates its own set of concerns.
“There are a lot of things that happen through social media that create issues at school,” Rueter said. “I mean, that’s their world, you know, that’s their world.”
Supporters of the ban cite statistics that show teen suicide rates are up 300%, self-harm among girls has climbed 250% and anxiety and depression rates are rising.
“We now have data that makes it very clear that a big cause of the mental health crisis among our youth is caused by cellphone addiction and social-media addiction,” Troxclair said. “And when I was looking through the statistics, they are just absolutely shocking.”
If the Legislature mandates district-level policies, Rueter said Elgin ISD will seek community input and align its approach with neighboring districts.
“If they make us develop a policy, which is probably going to happen, we’ll just go at that time and see our board,” she added. “They listen to our people, and then administration would make a recommendation… I have a really good relationship (with other superintendents) and we would all do probably similar things together.”
Should House Bill 515 pass this session, set to end June 2, it would take effect with the 2025-26 academic year.
“This measure has growing bipartisan support as well as overwhelming approval from teachers, administrators, parents and yes, even students,” Troxclair said. “I think even people who are initially opposed come around pretty quickly—after about six weeks or so, even they come around to realizing that it is possible for kids to be in school for the day without their cellphone.”
Until then, district officials say they are watching the debate closely and preparing for any potential changes to how Elgin’s young learners use phones on campus.
