Red River Parish Public Schools will begin requiring clear backpacks for students in kindergarten through 12th grade on Oct. 19 as part of new measures aimed at strengthening school security.

The district said recent events prompted a review of its security practices, with the clear backpack requirement being one of several measures implemented as a result. District officials said clear backpacks provide greater visibility of their contents and can help deter prohibited items while allowing students to enter school without daily screening.

The district will provide each K–12 student with a clear backpack at no cost for the 2026–27 school year, with distribution scheduled for Oct. 1. Students will be required to use the backpack provided by Red River Parish Public Schools this year and will not be permitted to substitute another clear backpack. The district plans to develop guidelines for 2027–28 that could give families more flexibility in purchasing their own.

Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 students are not required to use clear backpacks. Clear lunch boxes will be required and are available upon request. Female students may also carry one non-clear 4-by-6-inch pouch for personal hygiene items.

Students may personalize their backpacks, but decorations will be limited to the backpack straps so the contents remain visible. Each student will also receive a luggage-style identification tag for the backpack.

Purses and other additional bags should be left at home when they are not needed for school activities. When athletic bags, instrument cases or other specialty bags are necessary, they will be stored in an area designated by the school principal.

Students who do not receive their clear backpack or a requested clear lunch box on Oct. 1 should contact their school during Intersession, Oct. 5–8, to arrange pickup.

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