From saving on school supplies to the impact of federal cuts, the WTOP team is studying up on hot-button topics in education across the D.C. region. Follow on air and online in our series, “WTOP Goes Back to School” this August and September.

In an effort to curb distractions and improve school safety, Howard County Public Schools has implemented a new cellphone policy that requires high school students to keep their devices “out of sight” throughout the school day — a move that has drawn praise from teachers and pushback from students.

“Prior to the cellphone policy change, I would visit schools and visit classrooms,” Superintendent of Howard County Public Schools Bill Barnes said. “Teachers were having a very difficult time having students focus on instruction.”

Students were ei

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