Being a parent is nonstop hard work, making it challenging to stay on top of news that impacts families in Washington state. This Hits Home is your weekly hit of news, commentary, and, occasionally, opinion. Want to have a say? Look for the “Take action” prompts. Here’s the update for the week of April 27 – May 3.
New SPS districtwide cellphone rules start tomorrow
A new districtwide cellphone policy in Seattle Public Schools takes effect Monday, May 4, marking the first time the state’s largest district has adopted a consistent set of rules across all schools. The policy requires students in grades K–8 to keep phones turned off and stored away for the entire school day, while high school students must keep devices out of sight during class but may use them during lunch and passing periods. Here are the grade span-specific rules as posted by SPS.
- “Off and Away for the Day” Rule in Grades K–8: Phones are off and stored away for the full school day, with no access during instruction, passing periods, or lunch.
- “No Cell Bell to Bell” Rule in Grades 9–12: Phones are off and away during all instructional time. Students may have limited access during lunch and passing periods, supporting responsible device use and digital citizenship while keeping phones out of the classroom.
- Exceptions: Students who require access to personal devices for medical needs or as part of a documented IEP or Section 504 accommodation will continue to be supported.
District leaders say the move is aimed at reducing classroom distractions and improving student focus, following pilot programs at several schools. The policy replaces a patchwork of school-by-school rules and allows limited exceptions for medical needs or accommodations. Families can still reach students during the day through school offices, while schools retain some flexibility in how the rules are enforced.
Thought you were saving family grocery money with buy 1, get one? Maybe not
Washington is suing Albertsons under the state’s Consumer Protection Act, alleging the company used deceptive pricing practices in its “buy one, get one free” (BOGO) promotions. According to the complaint, Albertsons advertised certain items as “free” with the purchase of another item, but the state argues those promotions were misleading to shoppers because they did not provide the kind of savings consumers would reasonably expect from that label…