Orange County Public Schools will give families several weeks to adjust to new restrictions on e-bikes and e-scooters before enforcement begins Sept. 8, district officials announced Friday as they outlined safety measures and other preparations for the 2026-27 school year. 

Superintendent Maria Vazquez discussed the district’s new micromobility policy during OCPS’ annual back-to-school news conference at Lake Nona High School, four days before students return to class Tuesday. 

Under the policy, e-bikes and e-scooters are prohibited on school property except for high school students who have a learner’s permit or valid driver’s license and receive an approved e-decal from their school. Approved students must lock their devices in a designated rack or other approved location.  

The district will provide a grace period through Labor Day, with enforcement beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8. The School Board will review the policy after the first nine weeks and consider whether changes are needed based on feedback. 

“They’ll have until the Tuesday after Labor Day to make arrangements, and then after that, we will start to enforce the consequences,” Vazquez said.  

Vazquez said the district is also developing changes to the student code of conduct addressing violations. Consequences would escalate from warnings and parent contact to the loss of the privilege to use an e-bike or e-scooter.  

Orange County Sheriff John Mina said deputies will also be watching for students operating e-bikes and e-scooters recklessly, speeding or failing to stop at stop signs. The Sheriff’s Office is working with Orange County government on a proposed ordinance addressing micromobility violations, although deputies can already enforce existing traffic laws.  

Mina said additional deputies will conduct traffic enforcement around schools as classes resume and urged motorists to use caution. He said at least one school crossing guard is struck by a vehicle or e-bike each year. 

Orlando Police Chief Eric D. Smith similarly said traffic officers would be deployed around schools and urged motorists to slow down. He also said school resource officers spent two weeks in intensive training that included active-shooter training. 

“They will put their lives on the line to protect your kids,” Smith said. “That is their main job on campus, is to keep our kids safe, and they will do that.”  

OCPS District Police Chief Bryan Holmes said school resource officers will serve at all traditional OCPS campuses this year. He also encouraged students, families and staff to report threats or concerning behavior. 

District officials also addressed ongoing negotiations with the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association over compensation and health insurance. 

OCPS and the union have reached an agreement involving state Teacher Salary Increase Allocation funds for eligible teachers with at least 10 years of experience in Florida public schools. The agreement is awaiting ratification, Vazquez said. The district also invested an additional $4.9 million to extend salary increases to 1,818 non-classroom teachers who otherwise would not qualify under the state allocation.  

Other compensation and health insurance issues remain at impasse. Vazquez said the district expects a special magistrate’s recommendation in about 30 days. Either side can accept or reject the recommendation; if either rejects it, the dispute would proceed to a hearing before the School Board.  

“It’s our hope that through bargaining or the impasse process, we are able to resolve the salary and insurance differences quickly in order to give all of our employees their well-deserved salary increases,” Vazquez said.  

OCPS projects enrollment of 197,548 students at 208 schools this year. Vazquez said enrollment continues to decline, but the district does not plan additional school consolidations this year.  

However, OCPS is introducing several strategies aimed at boosting enrollment. The district is opening its magnet programs and academies to students who live outside Orange County and making OCPS programs available to homeschooled students. 

OCPS is also introducing new microschool concepts. A baseball and softball microschool housed at Cheney Elementary School will open Tuesday, combining instruction from OCPS teachers with competitive baseball and softball. Vazquez said the district is also considering microschool concepts involving golf, dance, dyslexia and Montessori education. 

Vazquez said the district is continuing efforts to encourage former OCPS families to return. 

“The district has already brought back more than 1,800 students last year, and we continue to encourage former families to return to our district,” she said.