There is no one-size-fits-all approach to education, but it's handled best when power is given closest to the states, said U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
Students needing a mobile device for a disability are exempt, and cell phones are allowed during safety emergencies. Districts and charter schools can decide if teachers may permit phone use in class.
The new law provides for public schools to add safety equipment and infrastructure, train officers to interact with students with disabilities and submit an emergency response plan. It also allows for the hiring of retired officers.
In this environment, each district must focus on the processes and tools they control. At the top of the list: a data system to gather assessment results, grades, attendance, behavior and progress monitoring.
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 case is a being closely watched by disability rights groups who say the courts have created a “nearly insurmountable barrier” for help sought by schoolchildren and their families.
As more special education students join general classrooms, teacher training programs are adapting with inclusive strategies and dual-licensure degrees. The goal: to prepare all educators to support every learner from the start.
