Richardson ISD trustees adopt 2025–26 student code of conduct, update cellphone, library and admissions policies

The Richardson ISD Board of Trustees on Aug. 7 approved the district'wide 2025'1026 student code of conduct and adopted several policy updates required by recent state laws, voting 6'0'to''0 in each measure.

The measures include implementation details tied to House Bill 6 (discipline and safety), House Bill 1481 (personal communication devices), a new school library advisory process required by Senate Bill 13 and an explicit policy on participation by nonenrolled students in UIL activities required by Senate Bill 401. The board also accepted $168,317.84 in campus gifts.

Why it matters: The code and policy changes are designed to align district discipline and student-access rules with state law changes passed in the recent legislative session. Among the items the board approved are new mandatory discipline steps (for example, increased in-school suspension days for certain offenses), changes in how the district handles personal communication devices, and a formal advisory role for parents on library material acquisitions.

The board heard a presentation from district staff before taking votes. Superintendent Tabitha Branham (presented as "superintendent Branham" in the meeting) said the district had worked with principals, legal counsel and the student services team to revise the code and that the changes respond to more than 100 new education-related bills passed…