Education
BY CHLOE YOUNG
Fewer students are vaping in Leander and Liberty Hill ISDs amid heightened consequences for electronic cigarette use. A new state law went into eect Sept. 1 requiring students using, possessing or selling e-cigarettes, marijuana or THC at school to attend a disciplinary alternative education program, or DAEP. Prior to the law, Leander and Liberty Hill ISDs already sent students to DAEP or juvenile programs for marijuana and THC oenses. Though ocials expressed concern about implementing the requirement for e-cigarettes due to capacity concerns at the DAEP, both districts have seen a decrease in their use and adjusted policies to only require repeat oenders to attend DAEP. E-cigarette use declines in local school districts
A closer look
Center, which serves as both districts’ DAEP, would not have enough seats to accommodate the amount of students vaping in years prior. As of mid-October, one student in each district attended the LEO Center for e-cigarettes this year.
In light of the new law, Bryan Miller, executive director of student support, said Leander ISD has seen an almost 30% decrease in nicotine vaping incidents from mid-August to mid-October last year compared to this school year. Liberty Hill has also seen a decrease, Chief of Schools Travis Motal said. Almost 180 students received disciplinary action for e-cigarette or tobacco use in Leander ISD in the 2022-23 school year, 91 of whom had more than one oense. Miller said he’s pleased to see a drop in vaping incidents as the Leander Extended Opportunity
“We’ve had less incidents at the start of this year so far than we’ve had in the last two years.” TRAVIS MOTAL, LHISD CHIEF OF SCHOOLS
The approach
Moving forward
The districts have taken the following disci- plinary approach to e-cigarettes to keep more students in the classroom and have capacity at the center, Miller said. • First-time oenders attend in-school suspension. • Second-time oenders are required to attend the LEO Center. • A 10-15 day placement is required compared to the typical 30-45 DAEP placement. • Districts discuss future consequences with students and parents of rst-time oenders. “Our ultimate goal is for the kid not to be vaping, so if we can take a less harsh approach for that to happen, I think that’s a better option for us for the rst oense,” Motal said.
Motal said Liberty Hill ISD hopes to open its own DAEP in the next year or two. Despite a decrease in nicotine vaping oenses, he said capacity at the LEO Center continues to be an issue for the district as it has a limited number of seats. “Our seats for LEO are full right now for other oenses that are not vapes,” Motal said. This year, Leander ISD Director of Counsel- ing Services Steve Clark said he’s requested that the School Health Advisory Committee review and recommend an evidence-based vaping and substance abuse curriculum for the district to potentially adopt.
E-cigarette use in Leander ISD
Number of students with e-cigarette incidents
Total number of incidents
60 50 40 30 20 10
0
Aug.-Oct. 2022 Aug.-Oct. 2023
SOURCE: LEANDER ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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