As students walk through the double doors, many find that last year’s phone caddies were just the beginning of device restrictions. Phone bans have now extended from the classroom to all-day restrictions due to new state legislation. Under House Bill (HB) 1481, Texas school districts are now required to implement policies that limit or prohibit certain electronic devices during the school day. 

HB 1481 was created amidst growing concerns about the effects of screens on students’ mental health and the consequences of digital devices on classroom management and learning distractions. As a result, schools are required to ban all electronic devices, including phones, watches, bluetooth devices, personal computers, and any electronic devices capable of digital communication. However, students are navigating mixed feelings about what is really gained, and what is lost, with the new student technology update for the 2025-2026 school year. 

“I’m not a huge fan of the ban,” Nishka Gupta ‘28 said. “But I also don’t think it will affect us too much because we’re already used to not having our phones since we had to put them in the caddies all of last year.”

In the previous school year, teachers began requiring students to store their phone in caddies during class, giving Westwood students a head start on reduced phone access. However, this district-issued policy was only enforced by teachers during instructional periods, whereas the state bill deems it illegal to use electronic devices not just during classroom instruction: phones are now required to be stowed away for the entirety of the school day, including Flex, lunch time, and passing periods. Amidst the new policy, some students believe the state legislature is going too far. 

“Of course you need students to concentrate during class,” Shrika Prakash ‘26 said. “But at the same time, it should be okay for kids to have their phones during their free time when they get the chance to relax, such as lunch or Flex. The lack of access to their devices could essentially cause more burnout for students.”

Although the ban was introduced with the intention of increasing student well-being and reducing burnout, students speculate it could be detrimental to student lifestyle and mental health, consequentially having the opposite of the intended effect. 

“The fact that they are not allowing any Apple watches or headphones in any way can be a little disruptive to the students,” Satchi Patki ‘26 said. “These devices can be something students use for their own personal well-being, like tracking blood flow or heartbeats, but they may not have a serious [enough] medical condition to keep those watches on per the guidelines.”

In addition to lifestyle, students have also grown accustomed to utilizing their devices for studying, an essential activity in Westwood’s highly competitive environment. During her freshman year, Aanya Pathak ‘28 reviewed for tests by reading through test reviews on her phone while waiting in the lunch line. Other students use their wireless bluetooth devices to listen to music while studying. Music has been proven to reduce stress and improve concentration by blocking out external distractions, therefore improving student performance and reducing the possibility of burnout. 

“There is also the issue that I cannot concentrate unless I have some sort of background noise, such as music going on,” Prakash said. “It will be hard to work without that study technique.”

Outside of academic and social settings, the lack of devices could create safety concerns for students as communication issues between families arise. 

“I think it will be hard to access families, especially in need of family, medical or school emergencies that may occur,” Lasya Medikonduru ‘28 said. “I think it’s good to let my family know if I’m in need of them, but without my device it will be hard to communicate, especially when necessary.”

These concerns about access go further than convenience and learning. For many students, their electronic devices are critical to link to family support during emergencies. America has experienced a rise in school shootings since the pandemic, spiking fear around firearm violence in schools. Debate continues over the lack of cell phone access in such emergency situations, as the cell phone ban limits parent communication with their children during school hours. 

“The whole reason I got a phone in the first place was for contacting people in need for emergencies,” Medikonduru said. “[This] year, it will be harder to contact my parents if something happens.”

In the wake of this new bill, students will feel the effects of the lack of personal devices during the school day. Although only an addition to last year’s district phone policy, HB 1481 spreads schoolwide distaste about the restrictions on electronic devices during breaks and outside of classroom instruction. While the bill has the potential to increase mental health and classroom productivity, the speculation around whether the pros outweigh the cons continue to be debated amongst students and staff.

“In a lot of situations, I feel like the benefits of having technology in classrooms heavily outweighs the negative effects,” Darryl Tang ‘27 said. “Additionally, our school already bans using phones during class, so it shouldn’t be so thoroughly enforced by the government.”