Education
BY ANNA MANESS & CHLOE YOUNG
LTISD bans cellphones for pre-K-8 students Prekindergarten through eighth grade students in Lake Travis ISD are no longer permitted to use their cellphones or smart devices on campus following a district announcement in July. The district adopted the new device policy after it was recommended by its School Health Advisory Committee at a June 19 board of trustees meeting. The change is intended to improve students’ learning and prevent bullying, according to district information. What you need to know Beginning the first day of school on Aug. 14, LTISD prohibited prekindergarten through eighth grade students from using smart devices, includ- ing cell phones, earbuds, smart watches and other personal devices. Students must turn off their devices and keep them out of sight throughout the entire school day until dismissal, according to
LISD proposes lower property tax rate Leander ISD may adopt its lowest tax rate in six years; however, some homeowners may see an increase in their property tax bill as property values rise. The district is projected to adopt a tax rate of $1.0869 per $100 valuation for FY 2024-25 at its Aug. 22 meeting, after press time. The tax rate proposed Aug. 8—a $0.0218 decrease from FY 2023-24—would be the lowest tax rate adopted by the district in recent years due to state rate compression. Despite a lower tax rate, some home- owners may pay more in taxes because the average taxable value of district homes rose from $426,517 to $455,926 from April to July. A home with a $635,128 market value and $455,926 average taxable value would owe $4,955 in school property taxes, a $211 increase from the year prior, per the district.
Discipline procedure Students who violate the policy will receive the following consequences based on the number of offenses.
A student’s device will be confiscated and may be picked up at the end of the school day. A student’s device will be confiscated until their parent picks it up at the end of the school day. Consequences will depend on the enforcement of rules at each campus.
1st offense
2nd offense
3rd offense
LAKE TRAVIS ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
district information. Parents who wish to contact their student may reach out to the school office. The district’s School Health Advisory Committee recommended the new protocol for smart devices at a recent board meeting in which several parents spoke about the negative effects of students using cellphones on campus.
LTISD AP exam scores show improved performance Lake Travis ISD saw a slight increase in the num- ber of students who passed Advanced Placement exams this May, which was discussed at a July 17 board of trustees meeting.
Higher scores
Exams are scored on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the highest. A 3 or higher may grant college credit.
AP exams are scored on a 1-5 scale, with 5 being the highest. Depending on the college, credit is typically given to scores of 3 or higher, but a specific college’s requirements can be confirmed on College Board’s website. In 2023-24, 30% of students received and 4 and 26% received a 5, compared to 28% and 22%, respectively, the previous year, according to Burbank’s presentation.
79.5%
2019 2020 2022 2021 2023 2024
80.14%
69.8%
Overall, 85.85% of students received passing scores of three or higher in 2024, compared to 84.24% in 2023. Kathy Burbank, LTISD director of accountability and assessment, presented this year’s breakdown of results to the board.
79.26%
84.24% 85.85%
SOURCE: LAKE TRAVIS ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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