2025-26 Texas School Year Regulations: Prohibition of Cell Phones; School Prayers; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policies
Texas lawmakers have passed a series of new laws affecting students, schools, and educators for the upcoming school year. Here's a rundown of some of the key changes:
Cell Phone and Personal Device Policy
House Bill 1481 mandates that public schools adopt policies to prohibit students from using personal communication devices, such as cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches, during the entire school day on campus. Devices must be kept off, out of sight, and stored in lockers, backpacks, or designated pouches from the first to last bell [1][2][4][5].
Ten Commandments Displays
Senate Bill 10 requires every public school classroom to display a 16-by-20-inch poster of the Ten Commandments with legible print, effective September 1, 2025, as part of Texas's cultural heritage [1].
Religious Displays and Prayer in Schools
Though not detailed extensively in the search results, the laws reflect increased accommodation for religious displays, including the mandated Ten Commandments posters, implying enhanced recognition of religious elements in schools consistent with state culture [1].
Suspensions
Out-of-school suspension can now be used for students experiencing homelessness and students as young as kindergarten through the third grade. Parents can request in writing that a student assigned out-of-school suspension be reassigned to in-school suspension, providing more flexibility in disciplinary measures [3].
School Library Materials
Senate Bill 13 increases local control over library content. School boards must approve book acquisitions and may remove books with sexual or profane content, aiming to limit what legislators consider "politicized content" [1].
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Sexual Orientation Teachings
Senate Bill 12 bans DEI programs in public schools and restricts instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation, narrowing permissible teaching content in these areas [1].
Personal Financial Literacy
Details on changes related to financial literacy were not available from the provided information.
Food Additives in School Meals
No specific information was found regarding new laws affecting food additives in school meals for 2025-26.
Rules for Ejecting Spectators at UIL Events
The provided data does not specify new rules for ejecting spectators at University Interscholastic League (UIL) events.
School Funding
A referenced funding plan allocates $20 million total based on school system rankings with weighted per-pupil rates: $12.50 for high school, $10 for middle school, and $7.50 for elementary school students, with funding distributed by priority and socioeconomically disadvantaged student percentages [5].
Pre-K Tuition-Based Program Changes
Starting in the 2027-28 school year, districts may only offer tuition-based pre-K if an intermediary organization confirms no eligible private provider is available, potentially reducing pre-K access for some families [3].
In summary, Texas' 2025-26 school year laws impose strict bans on student device usage during school hours, mandate religious displays including the Ten Commandments, restrict DEI programs and instruction on gender/sexual orientation, increase local control of library content, introduce flexibility in suspensions, and adjust school funding allocation. However, details on personal financial literacy, food additives in meals, and UIL spectator rules were not included in the search results [1][2][3][4][5].
[1] Texas Senate Bill 10
[2] Texas House Bill 1481
[3] Texas House Bill 2
[4] Texas Senate Bill 13
[5] School Finance Commission of Texas
- The new policies in Texas schools for the 2025-2026 academic year include a strict ban on the use of personal devices such as cell phones during the entire school day, implying a shift in the cell phone and personal device policy.
- In addition to the cell phone policy, Senate Bill 10 requires every public school classroom to display a poster of the Ten Commandments as part of Texas's cultural heritage.
- The laws passed by Texas lawmakers for the upcoming school year reflect increased accommodation for religious displays and prayers in schools, as seen in the mandated Ten Commandments posters and a broader recognition of religious elements.
- For students experiencing homelessness or as young as kindergarten through the third grade, out-of-school suspension can now be used, providing more flexibility in disciplinary measures, affecting the education-and-self-development and policy-and-legislation sectors of Texas politics.
