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Pasadena ISD adopts 2024–25 student handbook with updated tech, graduation and grooming policies
Summary
The board adopted the district’s 2024–25 pre-K through high school student handbook, approving updates on technology acceptable use, class-rank/early-graduation procedures and revised grooming language that changes a prohibition on beards to a requirement that facial hair be "neat and trimmed."
The Pasadena Independent School District Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to approve the 2024–25 pre-K through high school student handbook and authorized possible future updates tied to legislative changes.
Staff highlighted several changes in the handbook. One notable change would require students who intend to graduate early to declare that intention in the fall semester so that honors and ranking processes can be managed appropriately; staff said the district will convene a committee to further clarify class-rank procedures. On acceptable use, staff said language about technology was updated and an acceptable-use addendum was provided to trustees.
A proposed change to grooming language was explained: principals requested revising an absolute prohibition on mustaches and beards to a standard that "mustaches, beards and sideburns must be neat and trimmed." Staff and principals indicated the change was intended to address instructional time lost for grooming and to allow medical exceptions via doctor's notes. Trustees asked whether facial-hair privileges could be revoked for students who repeatedly caused problems; staff responded they would rely on existing disciplinary options (including in-school interventions, suspension or DAEP) and that principals retain authority to determine what is distracting or a safety concern.
Trustees voted to adopt the handbook; staff said it will be posted to the district website.
