AUSTIN (KXAN) — The change to rules surrounding cell phones in schools is on Round Rock Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez’s mind as the school year begins.
He sat down with KXAN’s Sally Hernandez to discuss how the school district will implement the new law keeping students off cell phones during the school day and what the district is offering to help students succeed.
Sally Hernandez: The cell phone legislation that just came out. What are you doing, what do you think about that and how are you going to enforce it?
Dr. Hafedh Azaiez: Obviously the law is the law and we have to obey the law. The law basically said students can’t use their phones during the instructional day. But as a district we are actually allowing our students to bring their phone to school because we know some of our students walk home, walk from home or even if they ride the bus. So we want to make sure our parents — before and after school, at least — will have an opportunity to check on their students and make sure they are safe and good to go. So we are allowing that to happen. However, during the school day we are asking our students to keep their phones either in their pocket or out of sight. If they have backpacks, put it in their backpacks and not use it during the school day.
Sally asks: What do you want this school year, what do you expect and how are you going to get better?
Dr. Azaiez: When it comes to advanced math and science, we have almost 70% of our Round Rock ISD students taking algebra in 8th grade, which is unheard of. I mean, a few years ago maybe we had 20-30% of it last. … And then this past year we started advance science program. So our 6th graders last year took the advanced science program and this year 7th graders do the advance science and then 8th grade — next year they will be taking physics in 8th grade. So that’s also setting them apart and giving them a head start.