ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County Public Schools leaders are scheduled to discuss proposed e-bike and e-scooter rules for students, along with their AI policy, during a work session Tuesday ahead of the new school year.
A draft policy included in the work session packet outlines several proposed rules related to micromobility devices. Under the draft, students would not be allowed to bring a device on campus unless they are high school students with a license.
The draft also says modified e-bikes and Class 3 e-bikes would not be allowed. Students would have to apply for a decal from their school, wear a helmet, and follow traffic laws.
School Board member Angie Gallo said the district has looked at several options, including a full ban unless students have a permit or license, as well as adding educational elements.
“I want to make sure we’re really solving the problem,” Gallo said. “Like, we’re looking at a problem and actually have a solution for it, not necessarily a band-aid because we think it might fix the problem.”
Safety is a large part of the discussion. According to the Florida Department of Health, emergency room visits for e-bike and e-scooter injuries in Orange County increased 273% in three years.
“They can be very, very dangerous,” school board member Alicia Farrant said. “We’ve seen lots of accidents, including some deaths here in Central Florida, and so we want to be very proactive to make sure that none (of those) things are happening on our campuses.”
School Board members are also expected to discuss the district’s artificial intelligence policy. The draft suggests educators must “ensure that all AI generated instructional materials align with state standards and Board Policies.” The policy would require that staff only use district-vetted, secure AI systems.
Guidelines for students state that they must verify the accuracy of their AI-generated work and adhere to the Code of Student Conduct.
The work session is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.