21 percent of high school students and 10.2 percent of middle school students reported having used e-cigarettes at least once in their lifetime.
Vaping is an increasing problem in public schools; Texas House Bill 114 (HB114) aims to reduce such cases among students through new consequences.
HB114 requires students to be placed in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) if caught in possession of, using, or selling any form of cigarettes on school property. It goes into effect on Sept. 1, 2023.
“With this new law [placement in DAEP] is automatic,” said Bobby Ott, Superintendent of Temple ISD (TISD). “It could be 15 days, it could be 60 days.”
The law will also apply to students smoking at any school-related events or in a 300-foot radius of school campuses.
“The bill was set up by the legislature in order to address the vaping epidemic in our state,” said Scott Fisher, Director of Safety and Magnet Grant Program at Longview ISD (LISD).
According to Texas Health and Human Services (HHS), 16 percent of middle and high school students reported using e-cigarettes.
“This is still a relatively new occurrence that’s taking place and health officials still aren’t really sure what this looks like 10 years down the road,” said Les Linebarger, Chief Communication Officer of Nacogdoches ISD (NISD).
Once put into DAEP, students lose the privilege of participating in all extracurricular activities including academic and athletic competitions.
“It’s really about [missing out on] privileges they have that come with public schools,” said Ott.
Students will still do normal school work during their time in DAEP but it will be online at their own pace.
“If a student goes to DAEP for having a vape they are going to have to complete an educational course on the dangers of vaping,” said Fisher.
As an alternative punishment, students may be expelled instead of being placed in DAEP.
“We’re hoping that the disciplinary measure combined with the educational part of it will keep them from doing it again,” said Fisher. “They [should get the] help they need if they’re addicted to a particular substance.”
