Gov. Mike DeWine’s push to ban cell phones in Ohio classrooms is meeting resistance from Republicans and Democrats.
In last week’s State of the State address, DeWine called cell phones a major distraction in state schools and asked lawmakers to develop legislation that would eliminate the usage in most classroom settings.
Read the full story
Oklahoma is planning to strip accreditation from schools that allow “pornographic” materials in its libraries, according to the state superintendent.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced a new rule on Friday that would lower the accreditation status of any school districts if “pornographic materials or sexualized content” is available to minors through its libraries. Under the rule, school districts must list, either on an online catalog or to the Oklahoma Department of Education, all books and materials available in their libraries.
Read the full story
Over two years removed from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio students are still struggling to succeed in the classroom, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
The latest release of state test scores shows that 51% of students were unable to pass high school algebra in 2022, compared to 39% before the pandemic, according to state test data reported by the Dispatch. In addition to math scores, reading scores fell below pre-pandemic levels at a 33.5% proficiency.
Read the full story
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is finishing model policies for school districts to give parents notice about lessons featuring “sexually explicit content,” according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
VDOE policy requires schools to post all “sexually explicit content,” including all materials used for the lessons and curriculum, on the school’s website and also requires parents to be alerted at least 30 days before the lessons take place. The policy says it is designed to help parents make decisions for their children “in accordance with their customs, faith and values.”
Read the full story
The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin is stepping into the fight over political signs in Waukesha schools.
The ACLU on Thursday said it’s filed an open records request to find out how the policy began and to see how it is being enforced.
Read the full story
Georgia teachers would be banned from teaching “divisive concepts” in the classroom under legislation signed off on by the Georgia Senate.
Senators voted, 34-20, in favor of Senate Bill 377. The legislation now heads to the state House, where lawmakers previously passed similar legislation, House Bill 1084.
The bill outlines nine “divisive concepts,” including that one “race or ethnicity is inherently superior to another race or ethnicity” and that an “individual’s moral character is inherently determined by his or her race, skin color, or ethnicity.”
Read the full story
The school district that oversees public education in Las Vegas said it will offer teachers and other employees up to $2,000 in bonuses if they stay on amid the current COVID-19 surge and concurrent employment crisis.
Clark County School District said in a statement this week that the CCSD Board of School Trustees had “approved an agreement with all five employee bargaining units to provide eligible regular and full-time employees employed as of January 1, 2022 with a $1,000 COVID retention bonus.”
“CCSD will also pay an additional $1,000 bonus to eligible regular and full-time employees who are employed on May 25, 2022, for a total of $2,000,” the statement added.
Read the full story
State and local governments in Tennessee spend on average a little more than $9,600 for each student in public school, according to a report by the Tennessee comptroller’s office, but per-pupil spending varies widely based on the type of school district and the population it serves.
School-level data reporting on per-student spending is available to the public this week for the first time. An interactive map and dashboard displays data from across the state. The comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability created the resources in response to a federal law that requires states to report school-level data on per-student spending.
Read the full story
As the Chicago teachers’ strike continues with no end in sight, 300,000 students spend another day outside of the public school classroom. Chicago’s mayor, Lori Lightfoot, says this is damaging to children.
Read the full story
The Professional Educators of Tennessee (ProEd) announced Thursday it is conducting a ten-question, online survey for teachers from now through Friday, March 9 about the level of safety in schools. “Tennessee Public Schools are entrusted with the responsibility of educating the citizens of tomorrow,” the statement announcing the survey said: A safe and secure environment is a requirement for effective teaching and learning. Educator and student safety is a priority for Professional Educators of Tennessee. We believe school management and planning in regards for student and educators must be a constant process and priority for all policymakers. Tennessee citizens think for themselves. Educators think for themselves, with an authentic voice that advocates for students entrusted in their care. We invite Active and Retired Educators to take this brief survey and share your opinion on school safety in order that we can share with state leaders and the media. By conducting the survey, Professional Educators of Tennessee can assist and help educate legislators in understanding how teachers feel on the growing concern of school safety. Because we have the direct input of educators, Professional Educators of Tennessee advocacy efforts carry significant weight with legislators. The survey for educators is located here:…
Read the full story