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Board hears legislative roundup: cell‑phone baseline policy, literacy investment and cuts to DTL noted
Summary
Board members received a summary of the recent 45‑day legislative session: approximately 540 bills passed, including education measures; the update highlighted Senate Bill 69 (cell‑phone baseline with local control), a $1.616 billion early‑literacy allocation and cuts to digital teaching‑and‑learning funding that may affect district programs.
Ralph gave a condensed review of the recently concluded 45‑day legislative session and its likely effects on district programming. He reported that roughly 540 bills passed and that 213 were education-related; the Joint Legislative Committee discussed a subset of those education bills with local superintendents and board members.
Ralph flagged several items with direct district implications: an increase in the WPU (Weighted Pupil Unit) of about 4.2 percent, but specific program cuts including the state Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) funding (roughly $18 million statewide) and reductions in some early‑literacy software funding. He also cited Senate Bill 69 as a major policy item, describing it as establishing a baseline cell‑phone rule while allowing local control over school implementation.
On early literacy, Ralph noted an allocation of roughly $1.616 billion for literacy interventions to raise third‑grade reading outcomes; board members said the district will track state guidance and model policies expected from statewide associations over the summer.
