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Education Slice helps you stay ahead of essential education news shaping your profession. With a dedicated daily National Edition and three strategic State Editions in California, Texas and Florida, we bring our unique blend of AI and education expertise to research and monitor 100,000s of articles to share a summary of the most relevant and useful content to help you lead, innovate and grow.

From Kindergarten to K-12, Edtech news, school management and teaching strategies… Education Slice is the only trusted online news source in the US dedicated to covering current headlines, articles, reports and interviews to make sure you’re at the forefront of changes in the education industry.

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Education Slice
National
Phone bans cut classroom use, but test scores barely budge

Support for all-day school phone bans is growing, with 48% of American adults now in favor, and more than two-thirds of U.S. states requiring districts to restrict phone use. A nationwide study of nearly 5,000 schools from the Pew Research Center, using lockable Yondr pouches, found that personal phone use in class fell sharply, from 61% of students to 13%. The benefits, however, have taken time to emerge. Schools typically experienced disruption during the first year of a ban, but by the second year, disciplinary problems declined, and students reported improved well-being. Despite these gains, schools with bans in place for three years showed almost no improvement in test scores or students’ self-reported attention, and there was little evidence of an effect on attendance, chronic absenteeism, or online bullying. Researchers suggest students may simply redirect their attention to friends, daydreaming, or online content on school laptops. The findings indicate that phone bans can successfully reduce classroom phone use and may improve behavior and well-being, but expectations that they will significantly boost academic performance have not yet been borne out.

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Education Slice
California
Phone bans deliver mixed results

Support for all-day school phone bans is growing, with 48% of American adults now in favor, and more than two-thirds of U.S. states requiring districts to restrict phone use. A nationwide study of nearly 5,000 schools from the Pew Research Center, using lockable Yondr pouches, found that personal phone use in class fell sharply, from 61% of students to 13%. The benefits, however, have taken time to emerge. Schools typically experienced disruption during the first year of a ban, but by the second year, disciplinary problems declined, and students reported improved well-being. Despite these gains, schools with bans in place for three years showed almost no improvement in test scores or students’ self-reported attention, and there was little evidence of an effect on attendance, chronic absenteeism, or online bullying. Researchers suggest students may simply redirect their attention to friends, daydreaming, or online content on school laptops. The findings indicate that phone bans can successfully reduce classroom phone use and may improve behavior and well-being, but expectations that they will significantly boost academic performance have not yet been borne out.

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Education Slice
Texas
Texas schools face state takeover turmoil

Texas officials highlight academic improvements in Houston and Shepherd ISDs, but researchers caution that state takeovers yield mixed results. Lily McClure, a parent advocate, expressed concern over potential state intervention in Austin ISD, stating: “We asked for help, and they're giving us a takeover.” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath supports takeovers, claiming they enhance school quality. However, Melissa Arnold Lyon, an assistant professor at the University at Albany, noted that while some takeovers succeed: “On average, state takeover has not increased academic performance and has exacerbated educational inequality.” The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has intervened in several districts, with varying outcomes. For instance, Houston ISD saw improvements but also faced challenges like teacher turnover and enrollment loss.

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Education Slice
Florida
Florida schools face tough choices

Florida school districts are grappling with declining enrollment, prompting discussions about school closures and consolidations. The Pinellas County district has already closed two campuses, with more expected soon. Miami-Dade County is considering 27 schools for potential changes. Researchers Francis Pearman of Stanford University and Michael Chrzan of the University of Maryland, in their report published by the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, argue that closures based on low enrollment or performance often fail to achieve financial goals and can exacerbate educational disparities. Pearman said: “In a turbulent era where difficult choices are increasingly unavoidable, we argue that the methods used to make these choices must be interrogated.” They emphasize the need for a framework that balances financial responsibility with equitable treatment for all students.

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