Latest news with #studenthealth
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Students at Pittsburgh Dilworth PreK-5 found with heroin stamp bags
Pittsburgh Public Schools is asking parents to check their children's belongings after they learned about several students being in possession of stamp bags of heroin. The bags are stamped with the words 'Take Off' and were found in the possession of several Pittsburgh Dilworth PreK-5 students. PPS said Pittsburgh Police are trying to find out where the heroin came from and how students ended up with it. Pittsburgh Dilworth families are asked to check their children's belongings and to contact 911 if they find the illegal substance in their items. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Fox News
4 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Youngkin signs Virginia law limiting 'bell-to-bell' cellphone use in public schools
Print Close By Deirdre Heavey Published May 30, 2025 Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill into law Friday limiting cellphone use for all Virginia public elementary, middle and high school students. Youngkin, who built his political career championing parents' rights in education, ceremoniously signed two versions of the bill, HB1961 and SB738, at the Carter G. Woodson Middle School in Hopewell, Virginia. Youngkin said it was a fitting location for a day filled with such "hope." "When we come together — elected officials, administrators, teachers, parents and all of you — we can move mountains, and we can change something that needs to be changed, and that is to find freedom, freedom from cellphones," said Youngkin, who was flanked by his wife, Virginia first lady Suzanne S. Youngkin; public school students; education advocates; and local politicians. "We come together in order to move a mountain," Youngkin said, as he highlighted the negative effect of cellphones in schools on mental illness, conduct in class, academic performance and interpersonal relationships. TEENS SPEND MORE THAN A QUARTER OF THEIR TIME AT SCHOOL ON PHONES, NEW STUDY FINDS The bill strictly limits the use of phones in classrooms to reduce distractions and disruptions, codifying Youngkin's executive order signed last year "to protect the health and safety of students in Virginia's K-12 public schools by issuing guidance on the establishment of cellphone-free education policies and procedures." DC COUNCIL PROPOSES BILL TO BAN CELLPHONES IN DISTRICT'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS "We are building on the foundation laid by Executive Order 33 to make Virginia the national leader in restoring focus, academic excellence in the classroom and restoring health and safety in our schools. This legislation ensures that every school division adopts a full bell-to-bell policy and removes cellphones from classrooms, creating a distraction-free learning environment," Youngkin said as he signed the bill into law. Research indicates using cellphones in the classroom can have a negative effect on students' grades, social skills, emotional development and mental health. In a 2024 Pew Research Center study, more than 70% of high school teachers said cellphones distracting students in the classroom is a major problem. "This wasn't just an issue. It's a crisis. And when we have a crisis, we have a unified call for action, and that's what this gathering is all about, this unified call for action," Youngkin said Friday. Hopewell City Public Schools adopted a "pouch system" in its secondary schools at the start of the 2022-2023 school year, which has been used as a case study and potential model for the Virginia Department of Education's cellphone-free education rollout. "I want to add my appreciation for Hopewell's leadership because it was your leadership that inspired the executive order that I wrote last summer," Youngkin said. The statewide legislation requires school boards to develop and public schools to enact policies to restrict student cellphone use during the school day. The law includes exceptions for students with individualized education plans, Section 504 plans or health conditions, so cellphones can be used when medically necessary. The law also prohibits schools from suspending, expelling or removing students from class for violating cellphone policies. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Florida became the first state to pass a law regulating cellphone use in schools in 2023. More than half of all states now have similar laws in place. Print Close URL
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
My daughter FAINTED at school because of ridiculous uniform rule – teachers force her to wear tights in scorching sun
A MOTHER has spoken out against a school uniform rule that made her daughter faint from overheating. Debbi Kinder's 12-year-old daughter let four teachers known she was feeling light-headed at Denton Community Academy in Tameside before she collapsed. 1 School rules, however, meant she was not able to wear socks instead of tights, and she was told to keep her blazer on even during warmer weather. Northern Education Trust (NET), which runs the school, clarified that pupils are allowed to take their blazers off in class. It said that "sensible steps to keep students comfortable" are taken when the weather is warmer and clarified that these include "reviewing uniform expectations and ensuring access to shade and drinking water". The NET added: "Students are permitted to remove their blazers in classrooms at all times and in line with our uniform policy, students can choose to wear trousers rather than skirts with tights, should they prefer during warmer periods." A spokesperson of the Trust went on to say: "We are aware of an incident in which a student felt dizzy while in the lunch area and was quickly supported by staff. "Appropriate first aid and reassurance were provided, and no further action was necessary." However, Ms Kinder recounted that after being sent to first aid by the fourth teacher, her daughter was checked over and sent back to class. She told the Manchester Evening News: "As she was walking to class she fainted and was caught by one of the canteen staff. "When I arrived at school, she was sat in reception with the first aider with an ice pack and a drink. "She was extremely pale and could hardly stand." Ms Kinder has refused to take her daughter back to school, during periods of hot weather, until the uniform policy is changed. She has expressed her dismay at the fact girls the only options for girls to wear are tights or trousers, regardless of weather. NET first began supporting the school, formerly known as Denton Community College, in September 2023 after Ofsted placed it in Special Measures.
Associated Press
07-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Risk Strategies Annual Education Practice Student Health Plan Survey Finds Costs Rising Nationwide
BOSTON, May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Risk Strategies , a leading national specialty insurance brokerage and risk management and consulting firm, today released the findings of its Annual Student Health Plan Benchmarking Survey . For the fourth consecutive year, managing student health plan costs remains the top priority for nearly 90% of educational institutions surveyed. Conducted midyear 2024, the survey of approximately 170 colleges and universities showed an overall average plan cost rise of 7.1% with schools in the survey's Eastern region seeing increases of 10% or more. Other regions surveyed experienced more moderate hikes of 5% or less. The survey also noted a decline in enrollment in student health plans, from 29% in 2023 to 24% in 2024. 'While student health plans are generally more stable in cost than employer-based plans, they are not immune to larger pricing trends,' said Terry Lyons, National Education Practice Leader, Risk Strategies. 'Our survey shows the higher education industry is working hard to manage the issue and meet student needs.' To address rising costs, 32% of schools indicated that they had adjusted medical benefits offerings, and 18% said they had modified the prescription drug coverage offered in the plan. The most common changes included: Higher copays and deductibles, with the average deductible increasing from $300 to $360 Shifts from copays to coinsurance for specialty drugs, rising from 12% to 27% Increase in insurance verification for waiver/opt-out enrollment 'With plan costs increasing and enrollments in those plans declining, we see institutions working to find new ways to engage their students about the value of plan coverage,' said Elizabeth Marks, Senior Strategy Consultant, Student Health, Risk Strategies National Education Practice. 'Clarifying plan benefits and emphasizing affordability will likely be key elements of this effort.' In other findings from this edition of the survey, mental health remained an important focus, though it ranked fourth nationally as a priority (76%) – lower than in previous years. It does remain, however, a leading priority for small schools (88%) and institutions in the East (91%). The survey also indicated that more schools (89% in 2024, up from 74% in 2023) are offering wellness programs, though smaller institutions face resource constraints. To access the full results of the survey, please click here . To learn more about Risk Strategies, please visit . About Risk Strategies Risk Strategies , part of Accession Risk Management Group , is a North American specialty brokerage firm offering comprehensive risk management services, property and casualty insurance and reinsurance placement, employee benefits, private client services, consulting services, and financial & wealth solutions. The 9th largest U.S. privately held broker, we advise businesses and personal clients, have access to all major insurance markets, and 30+ specialty industry and product line practices and experts in 200+ offices - Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Grand Cayman, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal, Nashville, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington, DC. . Media Contact Alana Bannan Senior Account Executive [email protected] (720) 400-8025
