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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to development of guidelines for the use of digital |
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devices in public schools and a school district or open-enrollment |
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charter school policy for the effective integration of those |
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devices. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 38.0231 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.0231. GUIDELINES FOR USE OF DIGITAL DEVICES. (a) |
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The agency, in consultation with the Health and Human Services |
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Commission, shall develop and distribute model health and safety |
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guidelines that school districts and open-enrollment charter |
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schools may use to determine best practices for the effective |
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integration of digital devices in public schools. The guidelines |
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must: |
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(1) be based on evidence-based studies and practices; |
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(2) consider the needs of students with intellectual |
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or physical disabilities; |
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(3) consider the potential costs of implementation of |
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the guidelines and affordable ways to reduce the hazards associated |
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with the extended use of digital devices; and |
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(4) address: |
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(A) digital device use for varying age ranges and |
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developmental levels; |
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(B) the amount of time a student spends using |
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digital devices in the classroom; |
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(C) appropriate frequency for breaks from the use |
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of digital devices; |
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(D) physical positioning of digital devices in |
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the classroom; |
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(E) the use of digital devices to complete |
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homework assignments; |
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(F) recommended total daily screen time usage for |
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students; |
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(G) recommended practices or software to block |
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access to inappropriate content; and |
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(H) recommended teacher training regarding |
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digital device use in the classroom to ensure implementation of the |
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best practices. |
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(b) The school board of each school district or the |
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governing body of each open-enrollment charter school shall adopt a |
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policy for the effective integration of digital devices in the |
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district or school. In adopting the policy, the school board or the |
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governing body may decide whether to adopt the guidelines developed |
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under Subsection (a) for use in the district or school. |
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(c) Each school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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that adopts the guidelines developed under Subsection (a) may |
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implement the guidelines in a manner that best meets the district's |
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or charter school's individual needs and the individual needs of |
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students in the district or school, including students with |
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intellectual or physical disabilities. |
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(d) If a school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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adopts the guidelines developed under Subsection (a), the district |
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or charter school shall post the guidelines publicly on the |
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district's or charter school's Internet website. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Education Agency shall develop and |
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distribute the guidelines for the use of digital devices required |
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under Section 38.0231, Education Code, as added by this Act, for use |
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beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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