Cedar Hill ISD trustees on July 21 approved an updated student code of conduct that incorporates changes from the 89th Texas Legislature, including provisions in House Bill 6 affecting in-school suspension, teacher removals, and discipline for vaping devices. The board voted 5–1 to adopt the policy with trustees directing administration to develop implementation procedures and additional training for principals.

District officials said the most substantial changes include lifting the previous limit on days a student may be placed in in-school suspension (ISS) — administrators must now review a student’s educational progress after 10 days and may extend ISS if the student is making academic progress — and removing mandatory disciplinary placement for a first-time e-cigarette or vaping offense. Dr. Whitaker, the staff presenter, also described a newly authorized virtual-expulsion option and expanded eligibility for Strive/virtual programs under Senate Bill 569.

Board members pressed for written guardrails and a uniform process across campuses. Trustee Carmen Morgan asked that the administration produce a districtwide plan explaining where ISS instruction will be delivered, how long extensions may last and what justifies additional days. Trustee Ross Bacon and others said principals must be trained to expedite appeals and parental communications so timelines don’t stall. Dr. Whitaker said principals will receive training at the principals’ retreat the week of the meeting and the district would develop the requested procedures.

Trustees also asked for explicit policies on teacher removal procedures under Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code. The revised code expands circumstances in which a teacher may request a student’s removal for conduct that repeatedly interferes with instruction, is disruptive toward adults or other students, or constitutes bullying. Trustees emphasized that the district must define committee composition and timelines for that process and ensure continuity of instruction when a student is removed and the grade-level has limited staffing.

On vaping and e-cigarettes, trustees said the statutory language is vague and urged the administration to provide a clear disciplinary matrix before the school year begins; Dr. Whitaker agreed to form a committee to develop that matrix and to return with recommendations. The board also asked the administration to outline how virtual-expulsion placements would be used, what academic oversight would be required, and how the district would ensure students receive meaningful instruction when placed in remote programs.

Administrators said some elements will require new operational steps (for example, ensuring an adult is available to monitor remote instruction or providing hotspots when required) and that staffing and facility constraints mean some decisions — such as which students can be assigned to virtual expulsion — should be governed by local criteria the board will review.

The board approved the code to allow district staff to finalize campus procedures and training before students return.