Bryan ISD school board amends the student code of conduct to reflect new state laws

This podcast contains comments from the August 4, 2025 Bryan ISD school board meeting.Bryan ISD school board members approve changes in its student code of conduct that reflects new state laws.Administrators shared those changes before the board's unanimous vote at Monday's (August 4) board meeting.Click HERE to read and download a summary that was presented at the August 4, 2025 Bryan ISD school board meeting.Click HERE to read and download the updated student code of conduct that was approved by the BISD board.The new state laws includes changes in student discipline.Out of school suspension may not exceed three days.In school suspension (ISS) is no longer subject to any time limit. However, the principal/appropriate administrator shall review the ISS placement of a student at least once every 10 school days to evaluate the educational progress of the student and to determine if continued ISS is appropriate.The punishment has increased for students who are caught for a first time offense of possessing an electronic cigarette. State law says administrators can either place the student in a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP) or place the student on in school suspension for a minimum of ten days.Parents of students placed in BISD's DAEP or who are expelled may request a behavioral agreement. That could result in reducing the disciplinary term, but not the placement type. And any reduction is at the discretion of the administration and requires full compliance.And the amended student code adds the new state law banning students from having cell phones and other electronic devices turned on and on their person during the school day. Consequences for the first offense is the student receives a warning and a staff member issues a discipline referral. For the student's second and third offense, the phone or other device is taken from the student, the student can pick up the device after school, and the student receives a discipline referral. For the student's fourth and fifth offense, the device is taken, a parent can pick up the device after school, and the student receives a discipline referral. The sixth offense adds the consequence of the student completing after school detention. The seventh offense adds the student going to in school suspension. Subsequent violations are subject to the student code of conduct for repeated offenses.The new state law banning students using electronic devices during the school day does not apply to employees. Presentation materials at Monday's BISD board meeting says unacceptable use of devices by employees includes personal messaging, calls, or browsing during instruction, usage that distracts from supervision, instruction, or student engagement, and filming or photographing students without parent consent unless it is aligned with district media guidelines.