No More Personal Devices: Katy Independent School District’s New Technology Policy Polarizes Parents

A parent in the Katy Independent School District has expressed outrage over a new technology policy set to be implemented in the district. Starting next year, students will no longer be allowed to use their personal devices such as cell phones in the classroom. This change is part of the Class 1:1 program, which was made possible by a 2023 bond, where every student in third through twelfth grade will receive a Chromebook from the district in August.

The aim of this policy is to create consistency in instruction and ensure that all students have access to the same technology. Some parents are in favor of the new policy, believing that personal devices can be distracting in the classroom. Valentina Sepic stated that distractions should be removed so that students can focus on learning. Nidhi Kundalia expressed a preference for less technology in the classroom, highlighting the importance of traditional learning methods and raising concerns about the cost of maintaining laptops once they are issued.

However, not all parents are on board with the new policy. One parent mentioned that she values being able to quickly communicate with her child during emergencies like lockdowns. The district has yet to provide specific details on how cell phone usage will change once laptops are issued but have assured updates will be shared with the public. For more news updates on this issue, you can follow Chaz Miller on Facebook and Instagram.