Latest news with #RichardsonISD
India Today
27-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Cellphones banned across Texas schools to curb screen addiction, 5 million affected
Texas has become the first US state to impose a statewide mandatory ban on student cellphone use in public and charter schools, affecting more than 5 million students. Under House Bill 1481, all school districts must prohibit the use of personal communication devices during school must either ban devices entirely from school grounds or require students to secure them in lockers, backpacks, or magnetically locked pouches. Devices covered include smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, pagers, and similar gadgets, though those provided by schools are have 90 days from the law's effect to adopt and enforce policies. The bill, authored by State Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo, was pitched as a means to boost young Texans' mental health.'The passage of HB 1481 marks an important step toward restoring focus and connection in our classrooms,' Fairly shared in a statement on Monday.'By creating a phone-free environment, we're giving teachers the tools to teach without disruption and students the space to learn, think critically, and engage with one another face-to-face," Fairly said."This bill puts education, not screen time, at the centre of the school day. I anticipate not only seeing major jumps in GPA's and test scores, but improvements in mental health and social wellbeing as well," Fairly FOCUS, MENTAL HEALTH AND BULLYINGProponents argue the ban is crucial to reclaim classroom focus and reduce screen-related mental health Representative Ellen Troxclair noted that excessive smartphone use has been tied to rising teen suicide rates, and students now receive over 20 notifications per hour in and educators alike have found that devices hamper attention and engagement.A Houston Chronicle editorial reported that schools using secure storage saw a 75% reduction in bullying incidents and a 13-point rise in test FOR MEDICAL AND SAFETY NEEDSThe law sets out clear exemptions for students who require devices for medical reasons or special education needs, provided these are supported by a physician's and some parents raised concerns about emergency communication, particularly recalling the tragic 2022 Uvalde shooting, where trapped pupils used phones to call for lawmakers addressed this by requiring that phones remain accessible in emergencies -- even if locked away during districts, such as Richardson ISD, report a marked improvement in teacher engagement, with 85% of educators agreeing that classroom time was reclaimed once phones were removed. Others, like Grandview ISD, employed locked pouches and witnessed students becoming more present and socially engaged during the school joins at least nine other states, including California and Arkansas, in moving to limit in-class cellphone use. With mounting evidence linking smartphone dependency to classroom disruption, states are embracing stricter districts fine-tune rules and tackle practicalities, Texas's bold step is likely to influence education policy elsewhere. The challenge now is to ensure smooth implementation without compromising student safety. Teachers, students, and parents will be watching closely as the new academic year begins.- Ends
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Textbooks, Not Texts: Texas Bans Cellphones To Boost School Focus
A new law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott over the weekend will prohibit students in Texas public schools from using cellphones and other personal communication devices during school hours. House Bill 1481 mandates that public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools adopt policies requiring devices like cellphones, tablets, smartwatches, and other telecommunication-enabled electronics to be stored securely and out of sight during the school day. Schools must either ban students from bringing devices to campus or provide storage options, such as locked pouches, to ensure a safe and secure environment. The law requires disciplinary measures for students found using prohibited devices, with exceptions for school-provided devices, those needed for educational programs, doctor-prescribed devices, or those required for health or safety protocols. Several North Texas districts, including Richardson ISD, have already implemented cellphone restrictions, citing distractions and bullying as reasons. Richardson ISD utilizes Yondr pouches, magnetic locking devices that enable students to carry their phones without accessing them. The district's superintendent reported 85% of teachers noted increased instructional time after the policy's adoption, Fox 4 KDFW reported. Dallas ISD, which has tested various approaches, must now develop a district-wide policy this summer. Piper Freeman, who just completed eighth grade at Dallas ISD's Robert T. Hill Junior High, where cellphones have been banned for several years, told Fox 4, 'It made a lot of people mad because they could not have their phones.' However, she added, 'It can be distracting when you see other kids on their phones.' Piper's mother, Megan Freeman, credited the pouches for reducing fights and improving social skills, recalling her son's observation: 'He said, 'Mom, you can tell the kids who have not had Yondr pouches because all of us Highlanders, we are talking at lunch. Everyone else is like this on their phone. They don't know how to communicate.' I love it.' Some opposition has emerged, with students in Houston staging a walkout last year against a cellphone ban and parents citing safety concerns, referencing the Uvalde school shooting, where victims used phones to call for help. Megan Freeman acknowledged these concerns, saying, 'I have had that frustration. I wish I could text my son or Piper. It's made me more proactive. Or I message the teachers.' Law enforcement experts advise students to avoid using their phones during emergencies and follow instructions quietly, noting that all Texas classrooms have desk phones for making 911 calls.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Richardson ISD student-run coffee shop brews authentic learning
The Brief The students at Richardson ISD's MST Magnet have been running their own coffee shop on campus to learn real-world lessons. In addition to learning how to make coffee, the students conducted market research, took out a small business loan, purchased equipment and supplies, and adjusted their prices and marketing strategies to be able to pay off their loan. They named their business Brew-tiful Minds and came up with the slogan, "Fueling futures one cup at a time." RICHARDSON, Texas - Students at an elementary school in Richardson ISD are gaining real-world experience by running their own coffee shop on campus. It will also help to raise money for the school's PTA. Brew-tiful Minds What we know Throughout the year, the fifth and sixth graders at Richardson ISD's Math, Science, and Technology Magnet have been learning how to start a business from the ground up. Teacher Cassie Cardwell first proposed the idea as a way to bring her reading and social studies curriculum to life. Student CFO Georgia Roberts first conducted market research. "I created the financial plan based off of a survey our team sent out to all the teachers in our school," she said. Students Davy Cass, the CEO, and Ellie Bready, the marketing director, helped to come up with the name Brew-tiful Minds. They secured a small business loan of $800 from their PTA to purchase supplies, milk frothers, and espresso machines. They also developed a marketing strategy that led to adjusted prices, a punch card system, and even gift cards that families can give teachers for birthdays and special occasions. Now, Principal Dr. Lauren Bolack is one of their many regular customers. "I take advantage of the Google Form and order in advance. So, every morning, there is a chamomile tea with a nice message on my desk," she said. What they're saying Cardwell said her students didn't really think she was serious at first. "It wasn't until after their first day of business and they closed, they turned around and were like, 'We made real money,'" she said. She's enjoyed watching how the project has helped her students grow. "The most spectacular light bulbs are the shy kids that find their voice, the kids that step into leadership roles. I don't have to hold these kids accountable for anything. They 100% do that on their own. They've learned teamwork, collaboration," Cardwell said. Richardson ISD Advanced Learning Director Kelsey Karcher called it authentic learning. "I'm sure we can all remember times in school where we've thought to ourselves, 'Why do I need to know this?' I doubt they've ever asked that while running their own business," she said. "I think the lessons they've learned, not only just about making coffee, which is an important life skill, but just to know that sometimes you have to rework your plans. Your original idea might not be the one that is the best idea." What's next The students paid off their small business loan this past Friday. That means they can now start funding their mission. "We are also donating money back to the PTA to like improve teacher appreciation and other things around the campus," Bready said. They are also working to pass the baton to their fifth-grade teammates who have been working in the shop this year. Those students will be able to apply for executive leadership positions next year. The Source FOX 4's Lori Brown gathered details for this story while visiting Richardson ISD's Math, Science, and Technology Magnet.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nonprofit on a mission to improve literacy with free books for students
The Brief Pop-Up Books is a Dallas-based nonprofit organization founded in memory of a second-grade teacher. The organization visited an elementary school in Richardson on Friday, handing out free books to make reading exciting. The literacy campaign is especially important at a time when less than half of all students across the state are reading at grade level. RICHARDSON, Texas - As school districts across North Texas struggle to get children reading at grade level, a Dallas-based nonprofit is working to provide free books in areas known as book deserts. The backstory Nick Bourgeois and his sister, Ryann Collier, founded Pop-Up Books in memory of his wife, Dominique, after she died of breast cancer in 2019. She was a second-grade teacher. "She fully knew the importance of it, and the confidence it gave them. Especially in second grade where they might be behind, always her mission was to get them back," Bourgeois said. What's new The nonprofit organization visited Aiken Elementary in Richardson on Friday, handing out free books to try to make reading enticing. "We know when students read books they are interested in, they will be interested in reading," said Alejandra Isais, Richardson ISD's director of Library and Information Technology. Big picture view Isais said there are still signs of the pandemic's effects on children in schools, especially when it comes to literacy. According to STAAR testing data, fewer than half of all students across the state are reading at grade level by third grade. It's why getting kids excited about reading can be the small spark that makes all the difference. "The critical years are kinder through second grade. If they are not reading at grade level by third grade, that's when it has effects in other areas," Isais said. What they're saying "What makes us keep doing this is seeing the smiles on their faces knowing they want to take it home and read with their family or by themselves," Collier said. "Not all of our kids have access to books or libraries," said Leslie Ingram, Aiken Elementary's library information technology educator. "I heard, 'This is the best day ever, I get to take a book home and it's free!'" In a world full of learning and entertainment on screens, it's a reminder of just how meaningful words on pages can be. "In elementary grades, kids are excited to come to the library, pick up a book and read it," Isais said. Dig deeper For more information about Pop-Up Books, visit The Source FOX 4 reporter Lori Brown visited Aiken Elementary School in Richardson to interview the founders of Pop-Up Books, as well as educators and students who received free books on Friday.
