A vaping violation can remove a student from regular classes and interrupt participation in sports, performances and other school activities. But the consequences depend on the product, the conduct, disciplinary history and applicable rules, not simply whether someone calls the device a “vape.”
For families at Seagoville High School and Crandall High School, understanding those distinctions is especially important because Texas changed its e-cigarette discipline requirements in 2025, while some public school webpages still describe earlier rules.
Nicotine and THC are different substances
Nicotine is highly addictive. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it can harm parts of the adolescent brain involved in attention, learning, mood and impulse control.
THC is a psychoactive component of cannabis. Devices can deliver nicotine, cannabis or other substances, so their appearance alone does not establish what they contain.
A nicotine-related e-cigarette violation should not automatically be described as a marijuana or controlled-substance offense. Conversely, a THC-containing device may trigger drug provisions beyond the rules covering ordinary e-cigarette possession.
A product advertised as nicotine-free also should not be assumed permissible at school: district restrictions can cover the device itself.
Texas changed the first-offense rule
Under House Bill 6, the Texas Education Agency explains, e-cigarette possession or use now permits discretionary placement in a disciplinary alternative education program, commonly called DAEP.
For a first possession or use offense, if the student is not assigned to DAEP, state law requires at least 10 school days of in-school suspension.
That means “every first vaping offense automatically requires DAEP” is no longer an accurate description of statewide law.
Selling, giving or delivering an e-cigarette remains a separate mandatory-removal provision under the specified school-related circumstances.
Marijuana and THC offenses also have separate statutory provisions. Possessing a device and distributing one should therefore not be treated as identical conduct.
What the local policies say
Dallas ISD’s 2026–2027 Student Code of Conduct lists a 10-day first-offense placement for e-cigarettes in an on-campus Reset Center, another on-campus alternative setting or a DAEP Reset setting, where applicable. It identifies a second offense as requiring DAEP placement.
The code separately lists THC vape pens and marijuana under its drug provisions.
Crandall ISD’s public vaping page prohibits students from possessing or using tobacco products, e-cigarettes and their components or accessories. However, the page still says House Bill 114 makes DAEP mandatory for a student caught with a vape, the earlier requirement.
Families should request the currently applicable board-adopted code and written explanation of the proposed placement rather than rely exclusively on that webpage.
Discipline decisions also require consideration of factors specified in state law, including intent, disciplinary history and certain disability-related circumstances. Students with disabilities have additional applicable protections.
Activities can be affected separately
Classroom discipline and activity eligibility are related but distinct.
UIL guidance says students assigned to DAEP for reasons covered by Texas Education Code Section 37.006 must be prohibited from attending or participating in school-sponsored or school-related activities during that placement.
Other DAEP assignments can involve restrictions established by local policy.
Dallas ISD also allows approved extracurricular conduct standards to exceed its general student code. Violations can produce separate consequences for membership or participation, including conduct occurring off campus.
An in-school suspension does not automatically establish the same statewide activity restriction as a Section 37.006 DAEP placement. Families should obtain the applicable team, club or activity rules and ask when eligibility resumes.
Passing grades alone do not resolve a disciplinary restriction.
Quitting support is available
Students do not have to wait for a school violation to seek help with nicotine dependence.
The National Cancer Institute’s Smokefree Teen website offers vaping-specific guidance and a personalized quit plan at teen.smokefree.gov.
Its vaping guidance also recommends the free quitSTART app and SmokefreeTXT, available by texting QUIT to 47848. The teen texting program is designed for ages 13–17 and describes its messages as smoking-cessation support; message and data rates may apply.
Students can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for tobacco cessation support or discuss quitting with a healthcare professional.
These resources address tobacco and nicotine. Students using THC or an unknown substance should tell a healthcare professional what they have used so support matches the substance involved.
A counselor or nurse can help connect a student with assistance. Seeking help does not guarantee exemption from school discipline, but it can begin addressing dependence before another violation disrupts classes or activities.
