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Texas school districts are heading into a transformative year. With new state legislation and continued funding initiatives shaping everything from device usage to mental health infrastructure, K-12 leaders across the state are facing an evolving set of responsibilities. The 2025-26 school year won’t just be about keeping up – it’ll be about planning ahead, building compliance into every layer of operations, and keeping students safe, supported, and connected in line with Texas school policy.
Whether you’re part of a large urban district or a smaller suburban system, Texas’s latest policy changes are designed to impact how schools manage technology, protect student data, and deliver equitable support services. For district leaders, the key will be balancing compliance with practicality, and finding ways to implement new policies in a manner that’s both scalable and student-first.
What’s Changing for Texas School Policy in 2025-26?
Cell Phone Bans: HB 1481 (2025)
This newly enacted law prohibits student cell phone use during the school day. Districts must establish secure storage policies and outline exemptions for medical and special education needs. By Fall 2025, formal policies must be in place covering logistics, enforcement, and equity considerations. While there’s no direct funding tied to this mandate, general school safety allotments may help with infrastructure needs.
Student Data Privacy & Protection
Although no new legislation was introduced this year, expectations remain high. FERPA and COPPA still guide compliance, but districts are increasingly expected to go beyond minimums: auditing vendors, updating policies, and communicating clearly with families about data rights and protections. Transparency tools and internal audits help build trust and reduce risk.
Internet Safety & Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying continues to rise in middle and high school settings. Texas hasn’t enacted new 2025–26 laws, but districts are encouraged to revise student conduct codes, train staff, and incorporate digital citizenship lessons. Federal mental health and SchoolSafety.gov grants may support prevention programming and staff development.
Technology-Based School Safety: HB 2377 (Pending)
This bill proposes new grants for physical and mental health infrastructure through the Permanent School Fund. Meanwhile, the TEA School Safety Standards Formula Grant continues through April 2026, and the state’s $500M safety allotment boost doubles per-student funding. Districts should plan for compliance with TEA standards and emergency preparedness upgrades.
Mental Health Technology Services: SB 649 & HB 2377 (Pending)
These bills – SB 649 and HB 2377 – propose expanding safety funding to cover mental and behavioral health services, including telehealth and counseling. If passed, they will unlock multi-year funding streams for embedded support models and scalable wellness infrastructure. Federal School-Based Mental Health Services Grants of up to $3M per district may also apply.
Parental Rights & Technology Oversight
While not currently mandated, family engagement is becoming a key area of district focus. Tools like student activity dashboards, behavior alerts, and wellness reports help build trust and keep families informed. These tools also align well with broader school safety and mental health funding streams.
Download the 2025-26 School Readiness Guide
To help district and school leaders stay ahead of these shifts, we’ve created the 2025-26 School Readiness Guide: a national resource designed to help K-12 decision-makers align their practices with the latest legislation, safety mandates, and student wellness priorities.
The guide includes six key focus areas:
- Cell phone bans & digital distractions
- Student data privacy & vendor accountability
- Campus & physical safety
- Online safety & digital wellbeing
- Responsible AI readiness & usage
- Community-centered student support
Each section includes a clear checklist and action items to follow, making the guide easy to reference and implement.
You can download the guide for free here.
Further K-12 Guidance & Support is Just a Click Away
At Securly, we’re proud to support 1,540,155 students across 647 schools and districts in Texas. Our trusted Texas partners include Katy ISD, North East ISD, Klein ISD, Plano ISD, Round Rock ISD, San Antonio ISD, Ysleta ISD, Northwest ISD, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, and Judson ISD, to name a few.
Whether you’re responding to new policy, evaluating your safety and wellness tools, or looking for expert support, our team is always here to support you along the way.
To learn more about Securly, visit our website.
For regularly updated Texas school policy information, bookmark the hub.
To discuss your school and its needs for 2025-26 with one of our experts, schedule a call.
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