The state-mandated revisions include a ban on cell phone use, expanded criteria for suspension eligibility and explicit provisions addressing antisemitism. Additional changes cover ID badge requirements and policies on academic dishonesty.
What’s changing
While Community Impact reported secondary students were previously able to use their devices—including cellphones, watches and tablets—during noninstructional hours, the new policy bans their use altogether while on school grounds per House Bill 1481, Director of Student Affairs Sherri Ashorn said.
Devices must be stored in students’ backpacks or lockers, and violations of the policy will result in confiscation and parent communication and pickup, Ashorn said. Additionally, campus administrators will dispose of the item 90 days after providing the parents with written communication.
According to district documents, changes to school suspension prompted by House Bill 6 include:
- Teachers may now remove students for disruptive behavior after one incident, with parental notice and appeal options.
- Students who are homeless and students in pre-K through second grade could now receive out-of-school suspension for certain off-campus offences.
- In-school suspension can now last up to five days, and serious offenses may lead to extended Disciplinary Alternative Education Program, or DAEP, as well as expulsion, including new transition and virtual expulsion options.
- All students must wear campus-issued ID badges at all times during school hours.
- “Academic dishonesty” will replace “cheating and plagiarism,” which includes the undisclosed use of artificial intelligence.
- Cyberbullying may also include AI-created fake photos or videos, called “deepfakes."
While the explicit mention of antisemitism is mandated by Senate Bill 326, General Counsel Justin Graham said antisemitism was prohibited under existing rules against harassment based on religion, race or national origin, and such behavior has always been considered inappropriate.
“None of this is going to change the way that our administrators at the campus level implement discipline because behavior that falls in this category has never and will never be okay for our children,” he said.
Taking a step back
Trustee Dawn Champagne pushed for stronger protections for students who defend themselves, acknowledging parent concerns that students who retaliate in self-defense may receive the same punishment as aggressors.
However, Ashorn said that current policies allow for case-by-case decisions, noting administrators already have discretion to consider intent and student history when assigning discipline.
"If administrators have a situation where, in their heart of hearts, they feel like, 'hey, there's something different about this scenario that I need to treat it a little bit differently,' they have the flexibility and the tools to do that,” Ashorn said.
Ashorn also said students who film incidents of fighting would violate privacy and potential cyberbullying policies.
Next steps
The policy changes will be in effect for the 2025-26 school year, per district documents.
