Waldrop said Ethan has a history of elopement, meaning he wanders away from supervised and safe environments.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it can happen at any time to anybody,\u201d Waldrop said.<\/p>\n
Two weeks ago, the district denied the request, citing a Texas law, HB 1481, that took effect this school year, which restricts tracking devices that could violate other students\u2019 privacy through recording.<\/p>\n
Julia Spencer reports on YISD reverses decision on Angelsense (Credit: KFOX14)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
RELATED: El Paso mom pushes GPS tracking for nonverbal autistic 8-year-old after Ysleta ISD says no<\/a><\/p>\n The denial also meant the device was not included in Ethan\u2019s Individualized Education Program, or IEP.<\/p>\n Waldrop said that after another meeting with the district\u2019s Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) committee on Tuesday, Ysleta ISD changed course and allowed the AngelSense tracker under a signed agreement. <\/p>\n She said the agreement limits how the device can be used during school hours except in emergencies.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an agreement that states that I won\u2019t activate the one-way or two-way communication during school hours unless there\u2019s an emergency,\u201d Waldrop said.<\/p>\n AngelSense GPS tracking agreement between Ysleta ISD and Kristina Waldrop. (Credit: KFOX14\/CBS4)<\/p>\n Despite what Waldrop described as medical documentation and concerns raised through several meetings, she said the district still does not believe the device is necessary for her son\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n Waldrop adds that the ARD committee noted in her son’s IEP that it \u201cdoesn\u2019t think that it\u2019s necessary for his safety,\u201d which she said she disagrees with.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s a valid reason at all. I have documented proof on the medical side,\u201d Waldrop said.<\/p>\n Waldrop said the tracker is now included in her son\u2019s Individualized Education Plan, but she believes it is not being treated as part of a safety plan.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a part of his IEP, but it\u2019s not really a part of it as a safety plan, which that\u2019s what I\u2019m pushing for,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She described the approval as progress but said she plans to keep pushing for the tracker to be recognized as a safety necessity in the IEP. <\/p>\n \u201cWell, I feel great because I could decide on with it being approved now like that it\u2019s just official, you know, but there\u2019s some more pushing that we have to do,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n According to Ethan\u2019s IEP, the ARD committee noted: \u201cThe tracking device is not required as assistive technology for the provision of a free appropriate public education also known as FAPE.\u201d <\/p>\n ARD Committee note in Ethan Cueva’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). (Credit: KFOX14\/CBS4)<\/p>\n Freedom Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) is a legal right under the Individuals Disabilities Education Act.<\/p>\n Waldrop said she believes the device is necessary for her son to learn.<\/p>\n \u201cI do believe it is necessary for Ethan to have this to learn because if he\u2019s not that safe, he\u2019s not able to learn,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n![\"AngelSense](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776537639_792_84f29f3a-a008-4a30-8aa6-ba5a725d9611-1758cd87a5fb45c4abb43046a2c4353c.png\"\/)
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