District News

Piper USD 203 is committed to creating focused learning environments and maintaining strong partnerships with families through clear, transparent communication.

Beginning this school year, Kansas House Bill 2299 (HB 2299) establishes new statewide requirements in two areas:

1. Student use of personal electronic devices during the school day.

2. Private or direct social media communication between school employees and students.

Under the new law, students may not use or access personal electronic communication devices during the school day. These devices must be turned off and securely stored away from the student in an inaccessible location.

The requirements apply not only to cell phones but also to personally owned smartwatches, tablets, computers, wireless headphones, earbuds, gaming devices, and other devices capable of electronic communication. District-issued devices may continue to be used for instructional purposes as directed by staff.

Limited exceptions may be authorized when a personal device is required by a student’s IEP or Section 504 plan, or when approved by a licensed physician as medically necessary and no reasonable alternative is available.

The second component of HB 2299 restricts school employees from privately or directly communicating with currently enrolled students through social media for official school purposes. School-related communication will continue through district-approved platforms, including district email and approved instructional and communication systems.

Additionally, official district, school, classroom, athletic, and activity social media pages will continue sharing public announcements, schedules, celebrations, and important district news.

Please note, students who need to contact a parent or guardian during the school day will have access to a school telephone or another school-designated communication method. Likewise, families who need to reach a student should contact the school office.

Thank you for your partnership as we implement these new statewide requirements and continue working together to support safe, focused, and successful learning environments.

For more information regarding the new HB2299 Policies and Guidelines, please click here.

KANSAS CITY, KS – Piper Schools is proud to partner with Tanger Kansas City at Legends in celebrating Earth Day through a series of sustainability-focused initiatives that engage students and the community while highlighting a shared commitment to environmental stewardship.

A centerpiece of this partnership is the pollinator garden groundbreaking and tree planting event on Wednesday, April 22 at 1 p.m. The garden, an ongoing project led by Piper High School’s Earth Club, will officially break ground on Earth Day. Tanger is enhancing this effort through a donation of trees that students will plant during the event, as well as wildflower seeds that will be distributed to students to encourage continued environmental impact beyond the school.

In addition, Piper Schools will support Tanger’s sneaker recycling program by hosting shoe donation bins at four school locations:

• Piper Early Childhood Center
• Piper Prairie
• Piper Creek
• Piper High School

Click here for the full press release.

Piper Schools has approved a small adjustment to the 2025–2026 academic calendar to better support staff during important end-of-year transitions. Because unused inclement weather days created flexibility, the final week of school (May 18–22) will include schedule changes:

What this means for families:

• The last week of school will include some schedule adjustments.
• Early Childhood students’ last day would be Wednesday, May 20.
• K–8 students would have a half day on Thursday, May 21 (instead of a full day).
• High school students will have half days on Wednesday, May 20, and Thursday, May 21.
• Friday, May 22, would be a staff workday with no students in attendance.

These updates maintain required instructional time while allowing staff dedicated time to prepare classrooms for the upcoming school year. View the full schedule breakdown here.