Some Texas school districts find loophole in state's cell phone bans

SAN ANTONIO — Texas law states phones should not be used in school, but two San Antonio districts have found a workaround.

Districts like North East ISD and Alamo Heights ISD let students check their phones between classes and at lunch.

It’s all in the wording of how “school days” are defined but both NEISD and Alamo Heights ISD still will not allow cell phone use during class time.

Schools that define a day as “start bell to end bell” prohibit cellphones in every capacity. A day defined as “instructional minutes” allows cellphones outside of instructional time.

This is the terminology NEISD has adopted per the TEA.

“Students are allowed to use them during passing periods or lunch breaks, before school or after school," Aubrey Chancellor with NEISD said.

In short, the day gives distr