Phone-Free FAQs

Through this updated policy, Keller ISD is seeking to reclaim the student learning environment. The new policy has been established to reduce distractions for students during the school day and to minimize interruptions to the learning process. KISD's policy is also now in compliance with House Bill 1481, passed by the 89th Texas Legislature.

While students are permitted to have cell phones, they must keep them powered off and stored in a bag, purse, or backpack throughout the school day.  

All Keller ISD students will be required to adhere to the new policy for the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices. All personal devices (including cell phones, smart watches, tablets, and any similar devices) must be powered off and kept in a bag, purses, or backpack during the school day.  

All telecommunications devices that emit an audible signal, vibrate, display a message, or otherwise summon or deliver a communication to the possessor, or permit the recording, transmission, and/or receipt of messages, voices, images, or information in any format or media, electronic or otherwise. It does not include an amateur radio under control of someone with an amateur radio license.  

Smart watches or any other wearable device that can transmit or receive messages is subject to this policy and may not be worn during the school day. 

The policy will be enforced throughout the instructional day, which includes, but is not limited to, class time – from the beginning of the first instructional period to the end of the last instructional period – all passing periods, restroom breaks, and lunches.  

Cell phones and any other personal electronic devices must be kept in a backpack, purse, or other bag. Devices may not be carried on the student’s body during the school day. 

No. Cell phones and other devices must be powered off and be kept out of sight. Placing a cell phone on vibrate mode is not considered “off.”  

Headphones or other Bluetooth-enabled devices (earphones/earbuds) are not permitted to be worn on campus, unless they are connected to a student’s district-issued device and being used for a teacher-approved instructional purpose.  

The policy is set to go into effect on the first day of school for elementary schools and on Monday, August 26, for intermediate, middle and high schools, giving campuses time to thoroughly communicate the policy to students and parents during the first two weeks of the school year.  

No. The policy only applies to the instructional day. The policy does not apply to before or after-school events like athletics events. However, students are still expected to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct at such activities, including the responsible use of electronic devices. 

For high school students (including students attending KCAL, Keller Collegiate Academy, or Keller Compass Center), each offense will result in the collection of the student's cell phone or device, parents being contacted by an administrator, and the cell phone/device being held in the office until the end of the day. Additionally, each offense will include the following consequences: 

First Offense: Detention (lunch, before school, or after school)  

Second Offense: Detention (Saturday School)  

Third Offense: One day of In-School Suspension (ISS) [Student will no longer be exempt from semester final exams]  

Fourth Offense: Three days of ISS 

Fifth Offense: Five-day placement in the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) [All DEAP rules and expectations to be enforced]  

Sixth Offense: 30-day placement at DAEP [All DEAP rules and expectations to be enforced]  

For intermediate and middle school students, each offense will result in the collection of the student's cell phone or device, parents being contacted by an administrator, and the cell phone/device being held in the office until the end of the day. Additionally, each offense will include the following consequences: 

Second Offense: Detention (lunch, before school, or after school)  

Third Offense: One day of In-School Suspension (ISS) [Student will no longer be exempt from semester final exams]  

Fourth Offense: Two days of ISS and student will be required to turn in their phone/device to the front office for the remainder of the school year

Additional Offenses: Administrator discretion following Student Code of Conduct for Persistent Misbehavior

For elementary school students, each offense will result in the collection of the student's cell phone or device, parents being contacted by an administrator, and the cell phone/device being held in the office until the end of the day. Additionally, each offense will include the following consequences: 

Second Offense: Detention (lunch, before school, or after school)  

Third Offense: One day of In-School Suspension (ISS) 

Fourth Offense: Two days of ISS and student will be required to turn in their phone/device to the front office for the remainder of the school year

A staff member will confiscate a cell phone or telecommunications device if it rings, vibrates, is used without permission, or if found in use on campus during school hours, except before and after school.  

During emergency drills, students may carry their backpack, bag, or purse, ensuring that they have access to their device for emergencies. In case of an actual emergency, students may use designated school phones or seek permission from school staff to access their cell phones.  

Law enforcement and safety professionals have commented that cell phones may have more of a negative impact on student safety than they are helpful in a crisis. Just a few of the ways cell phones impact school safety include:  

1. Being used to make bomb threats, shooting threats, or other threats to schools, which may require extended time to investigate and identify the perpetrators.  
2. Making threats to specific individuals, cyberbullying, instigating fights, and other school safety disruptions.  
3. During an unfolding emergency, student use of cell phones can distract their attention from safety and emergency response directions being given by school staff.  
4. Hampering rumor control and, in doing so, disrupt and delay effective public safety personnel response.  
5. Impeding public safety response by accelerating parental and community arrival at the scene of an emergency during times when officials may be attempting to evacuate students to another site.  

We understand there are times during the school day in which parents or guardians may need to relay a message to their student. High school students can receive emails from parents through their Keller ISD email account. For all other messages, parents and guardians can contact their school’s front office for help communicating any important information to your student, though we ask that you only do so when necessary.  

The rules for a phone-free learning environment are student rules; however, all employees are expected to adhere to the district’s expectations of maintaining a student phone-free environment. Further, teachers are asked to model this expectation during instructional time.