Superintendent Roosevelt Nivens said eligibility is limited based on principal feedback, but expansion may be considered in spring 2026 based on campus input following the rollout.
“As we move forward and collect data, if we see that it’s rolling well, then we can expand it. If not, we can draw back,” he said at the Sept. 16 board meeting.
Who’s eligible
The initiative, dubbed BYOL, aims to enhance instructional access and flexibility by allowing eligible students to use their personal laptops during designated class periods.
Monica Baines, director of advanced academics and college and career readiness, said the BYOL initiative is currently limited to students who are:
- Enrolled in at least one Advanced Placement, dual-credit or dual-enrollment course
- In grades 9-12
- Maintain a 90% attendance rate or higher
- Complete an Acceptable Use Agreement, co-signed by parent or guardian
The guidelines
Executive Director of Technology Chad Jones said the usage guidelines, which require devices to join district-filtered networks and prohibits personal communication, are in compliance with House Bill 1481, which was passed by the Texas Legislature in June to reduce distractions in the classroom.
As a result of HB 1481, trustees also approved a cellphone ban in June though the district previously allowed device-use during lunch and other non-instructional times.
While network filters help enforce rules, Jones said teachers will monitor student use with a progressive disciplinary approach, including:
- First offense warrants laptop confiscation, parents notification and device return after school
- Second offense also warrants laptop confiscation on top of three days of in-school suspension, or ISS, during which students are barred from extracurricular activities
- Third offense combines laptop confiscation, three-day ISS on top of the loss of BYOL privileges for the remainder of the school year
The current situation
While the district currently has a laptop ratio that is close to 1:1 currently for grades 3-12, an additional 2,000 to 2,500 laptops are needed annually to keep up with enrollment and maintain a spare pool, Jones said at the June 16 board meeting.
At the Aug. 26 board meeting, he said the district is reallocating laptops to high-need campuses with rapid enrollment, including Fulshear and George Ranch high schools.
In a letter presented by her mother, Sofia Sheik, George Ranch High School student Zara Sheik stated during public comment that the lack of access to devices is putting students at a disadvantage compared to districts with 1:1 technology programs.
“Having my own laptop last year allowed me to stay on top of my workload during class and advisory time. ... It is essential from turning in assignments online to prepare for college and careers,” she wrote. “Without this, we are at a disadvantage.”
Meanwhile, Lauren Jackson, a freshman at Randle High School, cited slow login times, missing keys and unresponsive iPads. She said these delays—especially for students in advanced coursework—make it harder to keep up with fast-paced instruction.
“Before enforcing this [ban], maybe immediate funds should have been allocated to make sure that there would be enough devices for every student,” she said at the Aug. 26 meeting. “I ask you to give us a fighting chance because it feels like academic sabotage.”
Moving forward
Board President Jacci Hotzel said the future of the BYOL initiative may be influenced by the outcome of the district’s 2025 bond election, which proposes $10.69 million to ensure all students in grades 3-12 have a laptop to use at school.
If the bond passes, she said district-provided laptops will potentially eliminate the need for personal devices altogether. The proposition is on the Nov. 4 ballot.
