La Joya, TX – Following the passing of House Bill 1481 in the Texas Legislature, student use of cell phones and personal communication devices in public schools across the state will be banned effective September 1, 2025.
In compliance with the law, La Joya ISD has implemented guidelines to ensure these devices are powered off and put away from first to last bell.
While the new law is aimed at minimizing learning distractions, it has raised concerns among parents regarding communication with their child should an emergency take place. To address these concerns, as well as promote transparency and ensure the safety of students and staff, La Joya ISD is reinforcing the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) across all campuses, strengthening a unified, district-wide approach to emergency preparedness and response.
A critical component for safety in schools, the SRP is a consistent and unified way students, staff and first responders react to emergencies by providing a clear and consistent framework developed in coordination with the Texas School Safety Center.
The SRP is used across Texas to promote consistency during an emergency and enhance coordination with first responders through six key actions and directives:
Hold – Restricts movement within a school by requiring students and staff to remain in the classroom with the door locked as instruction continues.
Secure – Issued when there is a threat or a hazard outside of the school. Students and staff must remain inside for safety.
Lockdown – Issued when there is a threat or a hazard inside of the school and uses classrooms and school security to protect students and staff.
Evacuate – Issued when there is a need to move students and staff from one location to another whether that be on or off site.
Shelter – Issues when specific protective actions are needed based on a threat or a hazard, including severe weather.
Reunification – One of the most critical aspects of crisis response. A predetermined, practiced reunification method ensures the reunification process won’t further complicate what can already be a chaotic situation.
To provide a better understanding of the SRP, La Joya ISD has launched a comprehensive information campaign – in English and Spanish – detailing each protocol step and how students and staff should react in each scenario.
“We use the Standard Response Protocol district-wide so that, in any emergency, students and staff know exactly what to do,” said La Joya ISD Police Chief Leonardo Sanchez. “By sharing this vital information with our community, we are incorporating the SRP into daily campus routines, which ensures quicker, more coordinated responses in emergencies.”
Beyond a more coordinated response, integrating the SRP into campus life supports training consistency across all campuses via district-led drills and awareness efforts. This information rollout campaign also strengthens the confidence and trust in La Joya ISD’s commitment safety.
Part of that commitment is to ensure transparency, which is why, in alignment with the SRP, parents will be notified anytime their child’s campus activates one of the SRP directives.
“La Joya ISD remains dedicated to a Legacy of Execellence through rigorous instruction, community engagement and safe student-centered environments,” said Dr. Marcey Sorensen, Superintendent of School for La Joya ISD. “The district is committed to upholding the highest standards of preparedness and care in every aspect of school life.”
By embedding the SRP into its culture, La Joya ISD is taking proactive measures to ensure a safer, more prepared learning environment for all students and staff – one directive at a time.