At a time when federal funding is determined by compliance with federal policy like Title IX, questions like "How can we forecast at a time like this?" and "What else is coming down the pike?" are top-of-mind for superintendents.
New York, the largest state to pass a ban, is providing $13.5 million in funding for cellphone storage and require districts to ensure parents can contact their children during the school day.
Budgets are shrinking, costs are rising and leaders are under pressure to do more with less. For some districts, rethinking leadership and cabinet roles may be part of the solution.
Major changes are coming to schools all across Long Island after New York lawmakers agreed to implement a bell-to-bell ban on cellphones during the school day as part of this year's state budget agreement.
The funding crisis stems largely from the end of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, which pumped billions of federal dollars into school districts during the Covid pandemic. As of September 2024, those funds have dried up.
A state fund intended to cover summer unemployment benefits for Minnesota school support staff is nearly depleted. School districts are now requesting tens of millions in additional funding, highlighting broader financial strain on both schools and the state budget.
When "keeping bad things out" becomes the overarching goal, we often miss a critical point: real safety is not just about avoiding something negative; it is about building something positive.
