Dialing In or Locking Out? Mapping Texas Districts’ Cell Phone Policy Types

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 3:45 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Imagining Digital Futures: AI, Cell Phones, and Technology Policy in the Digital Age of Schooling

Abstract

In response to growing concerns about the impact of cell phone use on student learning and well-being, school districts across the U.S. are rapidly adopting restrictive policies. This study examines the nature and variation of district-level cell phone policies in Texas, analyzing data from all 1,209 public school districts. Using institutional theory and latent class analysis, we identify distinct policy typologies and explore how district characteristics—such as urbanicity, enrollment, and student demographics—correlate with policy adoption. Our findings highlight how districts are balancing internal norms with external pressures from public discourse, media, and parental expectations. This research contributes to future-oriented policy conversations by surfacing the tensions and values shaping educational governance in a digital era, with implications for equity, safety, and learning.

Authors

• Vinh Pham, University of Houston

• Virginia W. Snodgrass Rangel, University of Houston