Harford County Public Schools’ new backpack policy does not require that students only carry transparent bags inside schools, despite initial policy proposals from the school board.

The new policy, passed unanimously by the Board of Education Monday night, allows students to carry hygiene bags no larger than 4.5 inches by 8.5 inches throughout the school day. All bags larger than that cannot be carried in the building and instead must be stored in a locker or dedicated storage area.

Though all schools in the district prohibit students from carrying large bags and backpacks throughout the school day, an official bag policy had not been in place since it was repealed by the board in 2021, to allow students to safely transport school-issued laptops.

School principals have the authority to grant exceptions to the new policy for students with medical, health or disability-related needs or students without lockers who applied for an exemption from the bag policy.

The district’s bag policy was first put in place in 2002 and mandated that large bags must be stored during the school day. Following a shooting inside Joppatowne High School that killed 15-year-old Warren Grant in September, community members pushed for transparent backpacks in all schools.

Board President Aaron Poynton said Monday night that potential cost, effectiveness, durability of bags and logistics of enforcing the policy stopped the board from mandating transparent backpacks in schools.

“The transparent piece is gone,” Poynton said during the meeting, emphasizing that the new policy mirrors the policy that was repealed in 2021.

The new policy will go into effect at all schools at the start of next school year.

Harford public schools’ clear-bag policy for spectators at all athletic events sanctioned by the district remains in place.

Have a news tip? Contact Matt Hubbard at mhubbard@baltsun.com, 443-651-0101 or @mthubb on X.