Aaliyah Iglesias was caught using a vape at a high school in Texas and was not aware of the consequences that would follow.

Out of nowhere, her remaining time in high school was in jeopardy. This included her position as student council president, her role as captain of the debate team, and even participating in the graduation ceremony. Her scholarships for college were also in danger. She was required to attend the district’s alternative school for a month and was informed that she could have potentially faced legal consequences.

Similar to many other students across the nation, she was discovered through monitoring devices that schools have put in place to prevent the use of electronic cigarettes, often without informing students.

Educational institutions across the country have allocated substantial funds towards the implementation of monitoring technology. This includes federal COVID-19 relief funds intended to support schools during the pandemic and assist students in their academic progress. Promotional materials have highlighted the potential of these sensors, which cost over $1,000 each, to aid in controlling the spread of the virus by monitoring air quality.

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This narrative is a joint effort by student reporters from Stanford University and the University of Missouri, in cooperation with The Associated Press.

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Vaping has become prevalent among middle and high school students. These devices are capable of delivering vapor with higher levels of nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes. Despite attempts to prevent sales to minors by increasing the legal age to 21 and prohibiting flavored products that are popular among teenagers, millions of young people continue to engage in vaping.

Certain areas combine the sensors with surveillance cameras. Upon being triggered by a vaping sensor, these cameras are able to record every student exiting the restroom.

Students may be surprised to discover that schools are equipped with this type of technology. Iglesias, a recent graduate of Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas, only became aware of the sensors when an administrator caught students vaping in the restroom.

Iglesias expressed amazement, stating that the administrator attempted to identify those involved but ultimately released all of the students.

The episode that got her in trouble happened elsewhere in Texas, at Athens High School, where her debate team was competing last February. Iglesias went into a bathroom to vape. Later that day, her coach told her she had been caught.

Iglesias admitted to engaging in a behavior that she regrets, but she still went through with it. She explained that her final year of high school was filled with stress and a family member’s impending release from prison added to her personal struggles.

She was immediately removed from the debate tournament and her coach warned her that she may face consequences since she was 18. As per the Tyler schools’ zero-tolerance policy, she was sent to her district’s alternative school for 30 days, which is the standard punishment for students caught vaping.

Students caught vaping may face a misdemeanor citation and a fine of up to $100. If the vapes contain THC, the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana, students could face felony charges and potential arrest. In Tyler, approximately 90 students have been charged with either misdemeanors or felonies related to vaping.

The Tyler district refused to provide a statement regarding the disciplinary measures. Instead, they released a written statement stating that monitoring the use of vape products is necessary in addressing the negative impact on children’s well-being.

According to the school system, the vape detectors have effectively identified instances of students vaping, enabling us to promptly handle the problem.

A leading provider, HALO Smart Sensors, sells 90% to 95% of its sensors to schools. The sensors don’t have cameras or record audio but can detect increases in noise in a school bathroom and send a text alert to school officials, said Rick Cadiz, vice president of sales and marketing for IPVideo, the maker of the HALO sensors.

These sensors are mainly used to detect vape smoke or THC, but they can also track for sounds like gunshots or specific words that may suggest bullying.

Cadiz mentioned that the districts are successfully preventing vaping in schools, but they do not want the school to spend $1,000 on a device that will only serve one purpose and have no other uses. They would prefer it to be a long-term investment.

HALO stated on their website that during the pandemic, using federal COVID relief funds to monitor indoor air quality was allowed.

According to the company, utilizing the HALO Smart Sensor in schools can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and promote a secure atmosphere for work and learning. Additionally, the sensor offers features such as vape detection and security monitoring.

Cadiz stated that schools now have the opportunity to utilize a portion of the $440 million that Juul Labs is paying as part of a lawsuit settlement, which alleged that the company targeted its products towards young individuals.

According to Cadiz, the company acknowledges the privacy issues surrounding the sensors.

“He mentioned that it simply informs us that an event is taking place. An actual investigation is needed to follow up on the alert.”

The sensors may not consistently function as desired by administrators.

At San Dieguito Union High School District in California, the concentration of vape smoke in bathrooms was so excessive that some students could not tolerate it. As part of a trial initiative, the district implemented vape detectors in bathrooms and placed cameras outside the doors.

Michael Allman, a member of the district board, stated that the sensors were too effective. They were triggered so often that administrators deemed it pointless to constantly review security footage.

On social media, students around the country describe ways to outsmart the sensors. Some report covering them in plastic wrap. Others say they blow the smoke into their clothes.

Sensors are utilized as a component of a prevention plan in place at the Coppell Independent School District in Texas. The plan also incorporates educational videos and a tip line. According to Jennifer Villines, the district’s director of student and staff services, students can receive a reward of $50 for reporting instances of vaping by their peers. She also mentioned that there has been a high number of reports due to this incentive.

According to her, students caught vaping may be sent to an alternative school or given in-school suspensions, but they will not be expelled.

Villines stated that it is important for our children to be present in order to learn. She also believes that certain behaviors may be a way for them to cope, and it is beneficial for them to be in our environment where they can learn to regulate themselves.

The consequences for Iglesias included having to step down as student council president and debate captain and leaving the National Honor Society. At the alternative school where she spent a month, students do regular coursework but do not attend classes and are not guaranteed to have the materials included in their normal classes.

“Despite the challenges, Iglesias managed to attend prom, participate in graduation, and remain in the majority of her extracurricular activities. She was also able to maintain her college scholarship and currently attends Tyler Junior College.”

She believes that the consequences for vaping have become excessive.

According to Iglesias, the individuals responsible for creating and enforcing policies do not physically observe the outcomes or consequences of their decisions on campus. This lack of firsthand knowledge hinders the effectiveness of these policies. Iglesias regrets being involved in such a situation due to the negative consequences he experienced.

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In addition to Munis from Stanford University and McCarthy from the University of Missouri, the following student reporters contributed to this report: Yasmeen Saadi, Mikaela Schlueter, Asplen Gengenbacher and Alexis Simmerman from the University of Missouri; Parker Daly, Elise Darragh-Ford, Emily Handsel, Henry Hill-Gorman, Victoria Ren, Shaurya Sinha, Carolyn Stein and Jessica Yu from Stanford University.

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The education reporting by The Associated Press is funded by various private foundations. The content is solely the responsibility of AP. For information about AP’s guidelines for collaborating with philanthropic organizations, a list of supporters, and the coverage areas that have been funded, please visit AP.org.