We hope you’re enjoying the fall season! As the leaves change, the education landscape continues to evolve. Here’s a snapshot of key developments that shaped education this October.
Inside this issue:
- PA School Weapon Alerts Bill Heads to Governor
- PA Budget Impasse Remains
- Student Cell Phone Bans
- U.S. Education Dept. Explores Moving Special Education
PA School Weapon Alerts Bill Heads to Governor
Pennsylvania’s legislature has unanimously passed Senate Bill 246, requiring all public, private, charter, cyber schools, and intermediate units to notify parents, guardians, and staff within 24 hours of any weapon incident on campus, at school events, or on transportation, with the bill now awaiting Governor Josh Shapiro’s signature. The legislation expands existing requirements to report to law enforcement and the Department of Education by including direct communication via reliable methods, covering items like knives, firearms, or any tool capable of serious injury, while protecting student privacy by withholding identities from general notifications (though sharing with assigned teachers). This measure aims to enhance transparency and safety in response to growing concerns over school incidents.
PA Budget Impasse Remains
Pennsylvania’s budget impasse, now over 120 days, has delayed $5.3 billion in state payments to school districts—projected to reach $6 billion by month’s end—and $10,000 stipends for more than 3,500 student teachers in unpaid placements, leaving many struggling financially and some unable to afford certification exams. The 348 most underfunded districts, like Greater Johnstown (where state aid covers 57% of the budget versus 28% from local taxes), face the worst impacts: borrowing at high interest, freezing hiring, cutting after-school programs, delaying textbooks and repairs, suspending behavioral health and vocational initiatives, and in extreme cases, risking school closures or “lockouts” as reserves dwindle. Despite the Democratic-led House passing a $47.9 billion amended budget on October 8 with a 5.1% increase targeting adequacy, basic and special education, and Medicaid, the Republican-controlled Senate rejected it on October 21 amid partisan gridlock, allocating only $30 million for stipends—far below the $50–60 million needed and the governor’s $40 million request—further straining teacher recruitment amid a 60% drop in new certifications since 2010.
Student Cell Phone Bans
Preliminary results from the Phones in Focus survey of over 20,000 public school educators across the US reveal that stricter school-wide cell phone policies—such as bell-to-bell bans or secure storage pouches—are associated with reduced in-class distractions, higher teacher satisfaction, and greater academic focus, particularly in elementary and middle schools where such rules are more common. The most prevalent “no-show” policy (phones allowed in bags but out of sight) underperforms compared to restrictive options, amid national concerns over devices’ impact on learning and mental health.
In Pennsylvania, the state Senate Education Committee held a public hearing on October 21, 2025, to examine cell phone policies in schools, featuring testimony from superintendents, educators, students, pediatricians, and policy analysts on the effects of device use on student learning, social development, and potential restrictions like age-specific bans. The hearing, which followed the introduction of bipartisan legislation to prohibit student cell phone use during the school day, highlighted that 425 of the state’s 500 school districts already have some form of electronic device policy. Lawmakers discussed allowing districts flexibility in implementation, such as using lockable pouches funded through existing state grants, as Pennsylvania joins other states in addressing these issues.
U.S. Education Dept. Explores Moving Special Education
The U.S. Department of Education, under Secretary Linda McMahon, is exploring partnerships with agencies like Health and Human Services to relocate special education programs as part of efforts to downsize and eventually eliminate the department, returning control to states, with no interruptions promised for students with disabilities. Amid mass layoffs, advocates warn that losing federal oversight could burden states and districts with IDEA compliance, leading to delays in services, evaluations, and data gaps, though experts stress that current laws and regulations remain in effect. This aligns with the Trump administration’s goal to reduce bureaucracy.
