Department update: cell‑phone ban implemented, special‑education funding raised and literacy work accelerated

Department of Education leaders briefed the State Board on legislative and operational priorities, including a recently implemented statewide "bell‑to‑bell" cell‑phone ban, increased state funding for high‑need special education, and new literacy and school‑safety efforts.

The department said it convened a legislative orientation in January for roughly 60 legislators to brief them on education structures and pending proposals. Staff reported heavy involvement with the legislature this session and an unusually high number of fiscal notes attached to bills affecting schools.

On policy, the department noted that the statewide bell‑to‑bell cell‑phone prohibition (part of the state budget legislation) required schools to have policies in place for this school year; staff said implementation has generally gone smoothly, though some schools needed guidance on personal devices and wearables.

State special‑education funding for highest‑need students increased from $33M to $50M; the department disbursed that increase to schools on Jan. 1, the update said. Officials also described a governor‑directed review of high‑performing schools with strong literacy outcomes and a plan to expand statewide literacy supports, including leveraging federal grant opportunities.

Career and Technical Education highlights included donation of decommissioned state trooper engines to CTE automotive programs to support hands‑on learning; staff said the program will continue to grow with state agency partners. The department also announced a new $8M round of school safety grants to support surveillance, access control and emergency communications, with an RFP to create a consistent statewide school mapping system for first responders.

Board members welcomed the updates; staff said further details on literacy strategies and safety grant implementation will be provided at future meetings.