2025-26 NISD Student Code of Conduct update highights

Nacogdoches ISD’s Board of Trustees approved the Student Code of Conduct during its regular meeting Thursday, July 24, reflecting required updates from changes to state law adopted this year by the Texas Legislature. CLICK HERE to read the entire Code of Conduct for the 2025-26 academic year. Here are highlights of the most significant changes:

House Bill 1481 (relating to smartphones, personal communication devices):

HB 1481 is a new Texas law taking effect this school year and is included in the new Student Code of Conduct. The Texas Legislature has prohibited the use of devices including cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds, tablets, laptops, and similar communication tools by students during instructional hours of the school day on all campuses. The school day is defined as the time between the first bell and the last bell. This means the use of personal communication devices are prohibited during the school day on school property.

House Bill 6 (relating to discipline placements):

A student who has been formally removed from class by a teacher for conduct against the teacher containing the elements of assault, aggravated assault, sexual assault, or aggravated sexual assault may not be returned to the teacher’s class without the teacher’s written consent

  • Teachers may remove students from class after a single incident.

  • Teachers must be given an opportunity to participate in the removal conference.

  • A model return-to-class plan will be adopted by the Commissioner of Education.

First-Time Offense of Possession or Use of Nicotine Delivery Product or E-Cigarette

An appropriate administrator may place a student in a disciplinary alternative education program for the first-time offense of possession or use of a nicotine delivery product or e-cigarette, as defined by Section 161.081, Health and Safety Code. If a student who possesses or uses an e-cigarette is not placed in a disciplinary alternative education program for the first-time offense under Education Code 37.008, the student shall be placed in in- school suspension for a period of at least 10 school days.

Changes on DAEP placement

  • Changes to the Education Code Allows DAEP placement or expulsion for serious bullying incidents, including:

    • Encouraging suicide

    • Inciting group violence

    • Sharing or threatening to share intimate visual material without consent

Parental Involvement when students are placed in DAEP

  • Parents of students placed in DAEP or expelled may request a behavioral agreement.

  • Following the agreement can reduce the disciplinary term, but not the placement type.

  • Reduction is at the discretion of the administration and requires full compliance.

Removal from a school bus:

Education Code 37.0022 authorizes a bus driver to refer a student to the appropriate administrator to maintain effective discipline on the bus. The administrator is required to utilize appropriate discipline management techniques as detailed in the district’s Code of Conduct.

A bus driver may refer a student to the principal’s office or the Campus Behavior Coordinator (CBC) office to maintain effective discipline on the bus. The principal or CBC must employ additional discipline management techniques, as appropriate, which can include restricting or revoking a student’s bus riding privileges. To transport students safely, the vehicle operator must focus on driving and not be distracted by student misbehavior. Therefore, when appropriate disciplinary management techniques fail to improve student behavior or when specific misconduct warrants immediate removal, the principal or the CBC may restrict or revoke a student’s transportation privileges, in accordance with law.