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A Houston-area public school district has implemented a backpack ban for its middle school students, per reports from Houston-based media reports.
Houston NPR affiliate Houston Public Media (HPM) reported that the Aldine Independent School District (AISD), which is about 15 miles north of Downtown Houston, joins a growing list of schools across the state and the nation that are prohibiting or restricting the use of backpacks as a safety precaution.
The district’s parents were informed of the new policy through writing on Sunday, HPM reported.
AISD Assistant Superintendent of Middle Schools LaTonia Amerson wrote that a rise in violent incidents at schools was what brought forth the ban, which is being enforced until the end of the current academic year. According to the report, the ban went into effect on Monday.
AISD’s elementary and high schools are exempt from the policy.
"Our decision was not taken lightly and is just one step in an ongoing conversation about how we can best protect students in our rapidly changing world," Amerson said in the correspondence. "You will also see increased visibility of law enforcement in and around the schools due to various end-of-year activities and increased visitors on campus."
Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that parents initially didn’t know about the ban, but instead were confused by a purported AISD decision to forbid hoodies.
At least a few districts didn’t do away with backpacks entirely, essentially directing their students to replace them with clear ones.
Houston Daily reported that the Cleveland Independent School District (CISD) enforces such a policy, which went into effect late last month.
CISD, located some 50 miles northeast of Houston, required clear backpacks following an alleged threat to Cleveland Middle School, the publication reported.
Per HPM, AISD said as classes come to a close, school supplies and textbooks aren’t needed as much.
“Students are encouraged to bring only the essential items needed for classroom activities,” the district, serving portions of Houston and unincorporated Harris County, said in the report.