As a former teacher, I see the election as a once-every-four-years opportunity to teach students essential durable skills such as critical thinking, research and digital literacy.

Districts in California have until July, 2026 to "limit or prohibit" smartphones in schools. Students will still be allowed to use their phones in the case of an emergency or in response to a perceived threat of danger.

The bus driver shortage that accelerated during the pandemic seems to have become an intractable problem for schools. The yellow school bus, once an American staple for getting kids from point A to point B and a tool that helped ensure equal access to schools, is now so difficult to access that some parents are using rideshares and cutting back on work so they can get their kids to school.