Are smart glasses on their way out of Hillsborough schools?
Tampa Bay Times | Jeffrey S. Solochek & Divya Kumar | April 2, 2026
The big story: Smart glasses could soon be banned from Hillsborough County classrooms, just like cellphones.
At a workshop Tuesday, school board members reviewed a policy proposal that would add smart glasses – including prescription ones – to the definition of wireless communication devices. These devices are not allowed at all in elementary and middle schools and not allowed during instructional time for high school students unless otherwise specified by a teacher.
Board member Patti Rendon said a student came up to her and made fun of the fact that smart glasses were still allowed but cellphones were not.
“If anyone’s ever used these glasses, they actually can give you the answers to the questions,” Rendon said. “AI can actually do it for you and answer your test questions. So it really takes away from our educational process, and I believe it is a responsibility of this board to make sure that we make it very clear to our students that it’s not going to be acceptable.”
Principals will be given documents to help identify smart glasses, which usually have thicker arms and charging portals.
Board chair Karen Perez said on one school visit she noticed a principal who used smart glasses. She asked if they would be impacted.
School district superintendent Van Ayres said his proposal did not target adults.
“This is more with regard to students and how they utilize that during the school day, and it would distract from, deter from learning,” he said.
