District news
Phones banned all day at every Fort Worth ISD school
Fort Worth Independent School District · Jul 21, 2026
What happened
Starting with the 2026-27 school year, every Fort Worth ISD student must keep phones, smartwatches and tablets powered off and out of sight for the entire school day, under a revised Student Code of Conduct the board considered on July 21, 2026. The new code also requires every PreK-12 student to wear a visible ID badge.
Why it matters to families
This changes the school day for every student in the district, not just one campus. It follows a new Texas law, House Bill 1481, that requires an instructional-day phone ban statewide.
The evidence
The July 21, 2026 board packet's Student Code of Conduct summary describes House Bill 1481 compliance, requiring devices 'powered off and out of sight' during the instructional day, districtwide confiscation and parent-retrieval procedures, exceptions for approved medical, Section 504 or ARD plans, and a new PreK-12 ID badge requirement.
The source
July 21, 2026 board agenda packetSee the full record for Fort Worth Independent School District.
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