Latest news with #BelltoBell
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
DC Public Schools to ban cell phone use starting in 2025-26 school year
WASHINGTON () — District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) is continuing to take steps toward banning phones inside its schools. The school division announced Friday that all phones and mobile devices will no longer be allowed in the classroom. The policy will go into effect during the fall of the 2025-26 school year. This means that all phones must be turned off and stored away throughout the school day. All middle schools and several high schools have already begun implementing the policy, and DCPS noted they are seeing positive changes. 'Piloting a phone-free program in our middle schools demonstrated that storing students' personal devices throughout the school day enriches academic, social, and emotional learning,' said DCPS Chancellor, Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee. 'From increased classroom engagement to reduced anxiety and stronger student relationships — DCPS is ready to scale the program so we can keep driving outcomes that positively impact our students.' Fairfax County Public Schools defends new cell phone policy as some question whether it complies with law Despite the new policy, the school district will continue to utilize school-issued devices to integrate technology into a learning experience, and engage students in lessons related to digital literacy. DCPS said that while technology provides learning opportunities, significant challenges arise when it comes to cell phones being present in classrooms. School officials noted that growing research revealed that an increase in smartphones has fueled youth mental health concerns, negatively affected concentration and worsened bullying to include cyber interactions. At least eight states have imposed bans on cell phone use in the classroom, including Florida, New York, Ohio and Virginia. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the Bell to Bell law, stating that there should be no phone usage from 'bell to bell,' as in 'after the first bell rings at the start of the school day to begin instructional time until the dismissal [bell] rings at the end of the school day.' It also includes 'lunch and time in between class periods.' Check for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fairfax County Public Schools defends new cell phone policy as some question whether it complies with law
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. () — Virginia's largest school district has a new cell phone policy that is getting some pushback. The new rules that Fairfax County Public Schools adopted are more lenient than other school districts — they allow high school students to use their phones at lunch during the 2025-26 school year. Why strawberry season is coming to an early end in Northern Virginia While the school district is defending both the effects and legality of its new policy, some argue that it may violate a new law. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the Bell to Bell law. The law states that should be no phone usage from 'bell to bell,' as in 'after the first bell rings at the start of the school day to begin instructional time until the dismissal [bell] rings at the end of the school day.' It also includes 'lunch and time in between class periods.' However, FCPS told DC News Now that its policy meets the requirements of the law. '[The policy] is fully compliant with the new Virginia Code section because it restricts and regulates student cell phone use in an age-appropriate way,' FCPS stated. First-ever Capital Cup in DMV celebrates LGBTQ+ sports community 'Our existing policy is the best approach to give our high school students the chance to learn how to appropriately navigate the use of technology, which will likely be an important aspect of their lives moving forward,' School Board Vice-Chair Sandy Anderson said at a meeting last month. Three school board members attempted to pass an amendment restricting the use of phones for the entire school day, but it failed. 'I also have a teenager I would love for him to use his cell phone in the lunchroom because I think that's a space that's a little bit less restrictive, but it is not the law,' said School Board Member Ricardy Anderson, who backed the amendment. A spokesperson for Youngkin told DC News Now that the new restriction is the 'law of the land.' 'Any school division that does not currently have a Bell-to-Bell cell phone restriction policy will have to update their policy,' the spokesperson said. New survey shows Northern Virginia business leaders pessimistic about region's economy The governor's office also shared a statement with DC News Now from Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera, in which she criticized the district's decision. 'It's a shame Fairfax continues to deny the well-established fact that a bell-to-bell cellphone-free education is more beneficial for students and is choosing instead to be an outlier among the overwhelming number of school districts that have gone bell to bell in Virginia,' the statement read in part. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Central Arkansas schools prepare for laws going into effect next year
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Summer break is right around the corner for students, but it won't be a break for the state's school districts, which received plenty of homework from the state legislature. Of all the law changes coming in the 2025-2026 school year, Pulaski County Special School District Assistant Superintendent Dr. Janice Warren said 'Bell to Bell, No Cell' is the most challenging. The law requires students' phones to be stored during school hours. Arkansas educators experience Marine workshop in San Diego Warren said all changes made by new laws are among her biggest responsibilities this time of year. 'Whenever the session closes, you are trying to figure out, okay, what law impacts what,' Warren said. 'What laws have to do with registration? Which ones are the academic pieces?' She also categorizes changes by when they are coming which is usually one of three ways. They could take many years, like the full implementation of school choice vouchers. Some laws require adjustments over one summer, like 'Bell to Bell, No Cell' and free breakfast for all. Others are implemented immediately, such as a law passed this Spring requiring donated copies of the Ten Commandments to be hung in every classroom. New laws going into effect in Arkansas from the 95th General Assembly Some laws require curriculum changes and guidance from the Department of Education. Among them is a law requiring annual firearm safety instruction for students starting with the 2025-2026 school year. 'The big thing about that is figuring out what grade level, what subject area are you going to add this new law if it's gun safety or whatever,' Dr. Warren explained. Communication with staff and parents is a big part of preparation. PCSSD will be doing a trial phase of 'Bell to Bell, No Cell' within middle schools starting May 5, which has generated much feedback. 'It's just a task keeping up with all of them and making sure that we're implementing them correctly,' Warren said. Another law going into effect next school year requires all schools to offer accelerated learning courses. Bill to place audio recording devices in Arkansas school locker rooms headed to governor's desk A few laws are set to be implemented in the 2026-2027 school year. Act 478 requires the Founding Fathers' religious beliefs be taught. Act 134 requires education on communism and autocratic governments. Act 908 requires public schools to place audio recording devices in school locker rooms. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Four takeaways from the sixth week of the Arkansas 95th General Assembly
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – It was another busy week for the Arkansas legislature despite the icy roads and bitter cold. More bills have reached the governor's desk for signature, and bills continue to be filed to address various issues in the state, both great and small. NEW LAWS Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation into law during the week, including a ceremony Thursday marking the signing of free school breakfast legislation and the Bell to Bell, No Cell Act. Both of these were part of her January speech that opened the general session. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs free school breakfast and phone-free classroom bills into law Additional legislation signed into law was a bill ending affirmative action in state operations. Senate Bill 3 prohibits discrimination by considering a person's race or gender. GULF OF AMERICA One bill that will not become law was House Resolution 1010, requiring Arkansas to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. The bill had made it through its committee hearing but failed in the House on its final vote. CHEMICAL CASTRATION House Bill 1535 was filed Wednesday and would add chemical castration to the sentence of anyone accused of rape of a person 12 years of age or younger. The castration will take place using medroxyprogesterone acetate after review by a medical expert. Medroxyprogesterone acetate is a synthetic female hormone that would bring testosterone to pre-puberty levels. It is already used in several states for chemical castration. According to the bill's language, an accused can opt for surgical castration if they want to avoid using medroxyprogesterone acetate. PETITION PROCESS Back and forth continues on legislation that would tighten the signature gathering for voter ballot initiatives. AG Tim Griffin among 25 attorney generals urging US Senate to pass 'HALT Fentanyl Act' Secretary of State Cole Jester came out with an Election Security Report Card that faulted the petition process and coincided with a batch of legislation, Senate bills 207 through 211, to place greater controls on the process. The issue is citizen access to the law-making process versus its security. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Five takeaways from the third week of the Arkansas 95th General Assembly
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – It was a busy week for the Arkansas legislature as lawmakers dug into a range of matters impacting Arkansans. Five of the larger issues for the week were a counter to the governor's prison plan, a planned Medicaid work requirement, no cell phones in school legislation, an end to DEI in Arkansas and watershed protections. Prison plan: Sen. Bryan King (R-Green Forest) introduced a public safety plan to renew the focus on the safety of Arkansans. King cited what he called the 'three-headed monster' facing the state as a high incarceration rate, a high crime rate and high prison overcrowding. He proposed working with the Arkansas State Police and county sheriff's offices to add public-safety-focused hires, additional beds in county detention centers, and ramped-up assistance for probation and patrol officers. Funding would come from medical marijuana and casino revenue, King said, adding that unlike the 3,000-bed prison proposal, his plan is funded. Medicaid work requirement: Gov. Sarah Huckabee announced her plan to create a work requirement for anyone receiving Medicaid in the state. The update to the ARHOME program would require what she called 'able-bodied individuals' to either work, go to school or stay home and take care of their children to continue receiving Medicaid. Clients will receive support in meeting work requirement goals, including education and coaching, Deputy Secretary for Programs and State Medicaid Director Janet Mann said. Those who refuse to comply will have their Medicaid suspended, which will be restored when they comply with the requirements. This is a slight retweaking of the state's previous effort at a Medicaid work requirement. If the Center for Medicare and Medicaid accepts it, Arkansas will be the first state in the nation with a work requirement. No cell phones in schools: On Wednesday, the governor made a second announcement about the Bell to Bell, No Cell Act. This would end student's using cell phones while school is in session. Sanders said the bill was a necessity in light of a growing mental health need among young people with 'unrestricted access to smartphones and social media.' The plan had been tested in some schools during the previous school year where it was judged a success. End to DEI in Arkansas: A bill has cleared the Senate and is now before the House that would 'prohibit discrimination by public entities on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin,' according to the legislation's language. It would drop the requirement to state higher education from maintaining programs to encourage minority student, faculty and staff participation, as well as any hiring programs by state entities aiming to increase the number of minority employees. Several people spoke against the bill in its Senate committee hearing. It is now scheduled to be heard in the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee. Watershed protection: A bill was introduced in the Senate to end the moratorium on issuing permits to confined animal feeding operations along any Arkansas waterway, including the Buffalo River. The state currently maintains a temporary moratorium on issuing new permits for medium and large CAFOs along the Buffalo. The Department of Environmental Quality initiated the moratorium in 2014 after environmental concerns about the waste generated by a large-scale hog farm near the river. The farm closed in late 2019 when the state purchased its assets. The bill was due for a Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development committee hearing, but that meeting was canceled and, as of Friday, had not been rescheduled. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
