WACO, Texas — Waco Independent School District has implemented a comprehensive ban on cell phones and personal communication devices during school hours, following a requirement from state law.

The change represents what Deputy Superintendent Melissa King-Knowles calls "a big change" for the district.

"Our policy prior to this was that we did not want students utilizing them, with the exception of instructional purposes," King-Knowles explained. "We asked our students to keep them away and not use them for personal use."

Under the old policy, students could "use them in maybe a common setting such as lunch and also we did allow them to utilize them for instructional purposes."

Like several other school districts in the area, Waco ISD's previous restrictions weren't strictly enforced

See Full Page