Latest news with #BarbaraGleim
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania Rep. looks to limit cellphone, mobile device use in classrooms
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A Pennsylvania Representative announced proposed legislation that looks to limit student use of mobile devices. The bill, authored by Rep. Barbara Gleim, argues that personal mobile devices provide constant access to 'distracting apps and websites' such as social media, texting or games. These distractions, Gliem noted, can harm academic performance and cause developmental issues, increased anxiety and diminished social skills. 'Our proposed legislation requires the governing body of a school entity to adopt a mobile device use policy that restricts or eliminates usage during instructional time,' The legislation reads. 'These policies must be adopted during an open meeting of the governing body where the public has the opportunity to provide input and feedback.' The legislation would include exceptions for students who: Are members of a volunteer fire company, ambulance or rescue squad Have a medical condition or have an immediate family member with a medical condition Have a disability and use of a mobile device is required by the student's individualized education plan Are English learners and use the device for translation purposes Have permission from a teacher to use a mobile device for educational purposes during instructional time Parents, students and teachers would be informed about the policy and any changes at the beginning of each school year. All school entities would also be required to establish written protocols for necessary parent-student communication during school hours. Gleim argues that her legislation would help create learning environments where students can engage fully with their education, while free from 'the constant distractions of personal mobile devices.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill proposes limiting student use of mobile devices in Pennsylvania classrooms
(WHTM) — A bill proposed in the State House would limit the student use of mobile devices in Pennsylvania K-12 classrooms. The bill, proposed by Reps. Barbara Gleim (R-199) and Valerie Gaydos (R-44), would require the governing body of a school entity to adopt a mobile device use policy that restricts or eliminates usage during instructional time, according to the bill's memo. The memo asserts that the mere presence of a mobile device is associated with 'reduced attention and cognitive capacity as students cannot resist the urge to check notifications and messages.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The memo says research links excessive screen time with preventable developmental issues, lack of sleep, decreased academic performance, anxiety, depression, and diminished social skills. The memo adds that the legislation would include important exceptions for students who: Are members of a volunteer fire company, ambulance, or rescue squad Have a medical condition or have an immediate family member with a medical condition Have a disability and use of a mobile device is required by the student's individualized education plan Are English learners and use the device for translation purposes; or have permission from a teacher to use a mobile device for educational purposes during instructional time. The bill would ensure that entities establish written protocols for necessary parent-student communication during school hours. The memo says the bill must be adopted during an open meeting with the governing body so the public has the opportunity to provide input and feedback. The bill has yet to be introduced for introduction. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
07-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
2 western Pennsylvania school districts sue to strike down state's LGBTQ antidiscrimination protections
Two public school districts and several parents have sued the state in a bid to undo antidiscrimination protections for gay and transgender people in Pennsylvania, saying that the two-year-old regulation is illegal because it goes beyond what lawmakers intended or allowed. The lawsuit, filed in the statewide Commonwealth Court late Thursday, comes amid a debate in Pennsylvania and nationally over the rights of transgender high school athletes to compete in women's sports. If the lawsuit is successful, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission would no longer be able to investigate complaints about discrimination involving sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The plaintiffs' lawyers also say a favorable ruling in court would bar transgender student athletes from competing in women's high school sports in Pennsylvania. The plaintiffs include two districts — South Side Area and Knoch, both in western Pennsylvania — and two Republican state lawmakers, Reps. Aaron Bernstine and Barbara Gleim, as well as three parents and seven students. The lawsuit names Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which investigates complaints about discrimination because of someone's race, sex, religion, age or disability in housing, employment and public accommodations. Shapiro's office said it had no immediate comment Friday and the commission did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the lawsuit Friday. The lawsuit is aimed at the definition of sex discrimination that the commission expanded by regulation to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The regulation was approved in late 2022 by a separate regulatory gatekeeper agency, and it took effect in 2023. The plaintiffs contend that the state Supreme Court has interpreted the term "sex" as used in the Pennsylvania Constitution to mean either male or female. They also contend that the state Legislature never gave permission to the Human Relations Commission to write regulations expanding the legal definition of sex discrimination, making the regulation a violation of the Legislature's constitutional authority over lawmaking. The commission has justified the expanded definition by saying that state courts have held that Pennsylvania's antidiscrimination laws are to be interpreted consistently with federal antidiscrimination law. The commission can negotiate settlements between parties or impose civil penalties, such as back pay or damages. For years, Democratic lawmakers tried to change the law to add the terms sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to the portfolio of complaints that the Human Relations Commission could investigate. Every time, Republican lawmakers blocked the effort.
NBC News
07-03-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Lawsuit aims to strike down LGBTQ anti-discrimination protections in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Two public school districts and several parents have sued the state in a bid to undo anti-discrimination protections for gay and transgender people in Pennsylvania, saying that the two-year-old regulation is illegal because it goes beyond what lawmakers intended or allowed. The lawsuit, filed in the statewide Commonwealth Court late Thursday, comes amid a debate in Pennsylvania and nationally over the rights of transgender high school athletes to compete in women's sports. If the lawsuit is successful, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission would no longer be able to investigate complaints about discrimination involving sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The plaintiffs' lawyers also say a favorable ruling in court would bar transgender student athletes from competing in women's high school sports in Pennsylvania. The plaintiffs include two districts — South Side Area and Knoch, both in western Pennsylvania — and two Republican state lawmakers, Reps. Aaron Bernstine and Barbara Gleim, as well as three parents and seven students. The lawsuit names Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which investigates complaints about discrimination because of someone's race, sex, religion, age or disability in housing, employment and public accommodations. Shapiro's office said it had no immediate comment Friday and the commission did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the lawsuit Friday. The lawsuit is aimed at the definition of sex discrimination that the commission expanded by regulation to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The regulation was approved in late 2022 by a separate regulatory gatekeeper agency, and it took effect in 2023. The plaintiffs contend that the state Supreme Court has interpreted the term 'sex' as used in the Pennsylvania Constitution to mean either male or female. They also contend that the state Legislature never gave permission to the Human Relations Commission to write regulations expanding the legal definition of sex discrimination, making the regulation a violation of the Legislature's constitutional authority over lawmaking. The commission has justified the expanded definition by saying that state courts have held that Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws are to be interpreted consistently with federal anti-discrimination law. The commission can negotiate settlements between parties or impose civil penalties, such as back pay or damages. For years, Democratic lawmakers tried to change the law to add the terms sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to the portfolio of complaints that the Human Relations Commission could investigate. Every time, Republican lawmakers blocked the effort.
The Independent
07-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Lawsuit aims to strike down LGBTQ antidiscrimination protections in Pennsylvania
Two public school districts and several parents have sued the state in a bid to undo antidiscrimination protections for gay and transgender people in Pennsylvania, saying that the two-year-old regulation is illegal because it goes beyond what lawmakers intended or allowed. The lawsuit, filed in the statewide Commonwealth Court late Thursday, comes amid a debate in Pennsylvania and nationally over the rights of transgender high school athletes to compete in women's sports. If the lawsuit is successful, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission would no longer be able to investigate complaints about discrimination involving sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The plaintiffs' lawyers also say a favorable ruling in court would bar transgender student athletes from competing in women's high school sports in Pennsylvania. The plaintiffs include two districts — South Side Area and Knoch, both in western Pennsylvania — and two Republican state lawmakers, Reps. Aaron Bernstine and Barbara Gleim, as well as three parents and seven students. The lawsuit names Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which investigates complaints about discrimination because of someone's race, sex, religion, age or disability in housing, employment and public accommodations. Shapiro's office said it had no immediate comment Friday and the commission did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the lawsuit Friday. The lawsuit is aimed at the definition of sex discrimination that the commission expanded by regulation to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The regulation was approved in late 2022 by a separate regulatory gatekeeper agency, and it took effect in 2023. The plaintiffs contend that the state Supreme Court has interpreted the term 'sex' as used in the Pennsylvania Constitution to mean either male or female. They also contend that the state Legislature never gave permission to the Human Relations Commission to write regulations expanding the legal definition of sex discrimination, making the regulation a violation of the Legislature's constitutional authority over lawmaking. The commission has justified the expanded definition by saying that state courts have held that Pennsylvania's antidiscrimination laws are to be interpreted consistently with federal antidiscrimination law. The commission can negotiate settlements between parties or impose civil penalties, such as back pay or damages. For years, Democratic lawmakers tried to change the law to add the terms sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to the portfolio of complaints that the Human Relations Commission could investigate. Every time, Republican lawmakers blocked the effort. ___
