In a world increasingly digital, Katy ISD is doubling down on its tech-infused educational approach while simultaneously putting the kibosh on potential distractions. According to district officials, all students are getting Chromebooks, and your kid’s cell phone is now just another locker-bound decoration during class time. As the Houston Chronicle outlines, the upcoming school year starting August 14 will see these gizmos in the hands of every child, driving a major policy change towards the use of personal devices.

Now, don't get too sentimental about those dog-eared textbooks just yet. Starting this fall, Katy ISD is mandating Chromebooks purchased with a hearty slice of the recently approved $84 million school bond. This pivot to Chromebooks means personal tablets and laptops should be left at home, tucked away safely—or wherever students store their digital paraphernalia these days. According to Covering Katy, this isn’t just about getting kids hooked on the Google ecosystem; it’s a strategic move to reclaim precious instructional time previously spent juggling a cavalcade of different devices and the issues they bring.

In a society where a buzzing phone is a constant companion, Katy ISD students will find their devices essentially moot during instructional time. "With students having those Chromebooks there really is no need for students to have cell phone use during classroom time," Christopher Morgan, assistant superintendent for secondary leadership and support, told the Houston Chronicle. The policy restricts cell phones entirely for elementary kids and clamps down on junior high students even during passing periods, making high schoolers the only ones who might catch a glimpse of their screens during breaks, as long as their campus principal gives the nod.

Beyond the classroom, Katy ISD is also ramping up its digital tracking capabilities with the SMART Tag ID card, a tool for anxious parents to keep tabs on their kiddos' bus travels. As reported by the Houston Chronicle, Roy Kloeber, associate director for transportation at Katy ISD, said the new SMART Tag Parent App would offer real-time updates, which are faster than previous methods because the data flows directly from the app.

The move to squash personal device use has its roots in more than just educational focus. Victor Perez, School Board President of Katy ISD, mentioned to Covering Katy a link between smartphone habits and the decline in adolescent mental health. “Smartphone use and the rise of social media really kind of coincide over the last couple of decades with concerns related to poor adolescent mental health,” he said, implying the district's pivot might alleviate some cyber-induced stress.

This isn't to say that traditional forms of learning are being tossed out the window. Despite the shiny new Chromebooks and the fancy apps for parents, old-school learning tools like paper and pen still have a place in the classroom. “I do hope that in the instruction and in the classroom, there is a good choice using the computers and the balance between using good old paper and pencil”, Perez dit to Covering Katy.