Heads up: School starts Monday
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Schools will ring the bell again Monday in Huntsville and Madison County.
Why it matters: Don't let the first day of school sneak up on you!
The big picture: Huntsville City Schools starts classes Aug. 4 for its roughly 24,000 K-12 students, but staggers start dates Aug. 4-7 for Pre-K classes. Madison County Schools start Aug. 4 as well.
- Check out Huntsville's full calendar here, and Madison County's here.
Catch up quick: New this year is Huntsville schools' cellphone policy following the passage of the statewide FOCUS Act which bans cellphone use at school. County schools did similar.
Zoom in: A letter to students and families in July details the new rules, which prohibit the use of personal wireless electronics devices of any type, including cellphones, headphones, smartwatches, etc.
- The first time a student is caught using their device at school, including at lunch or in hallways between classes, it will be confiscated until the end of the day and the student has to sign an acknowledgment form.
- On the second offense, the student spends a day in the In-House Learning Center; on the third, multiple days; and on the fourth, out-of-school suspension.
State of play: Schools across the state are also breathing a sigh of relief after the release of millions in K-12 funding that had been held up by a review.
- Alabama had about $68 million tied up in the review, including funds that go to salaries for teachers, teacher aides and other employees, as well as after-school programs.
- The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that funds would begin flowing this week, according to information provided to Axios from Alabama State Superintendent Dr. Eric G. Mackey.
What they're saying: "This is indeed great news to start the new school year," Mackey said in a statement to Axios. "Huge win for state chiefs— from both red and blue and purple states who all worked arm in arm on this common issue important to us all."
What we're watching: The state also passed new rules targeting underage vaping and requiring the State Board of Education, by Sept. 1, to create a "model vaping awareness, education, and prevention program and require each local board of education to adopt a policy based on the model policy."
- Huntsville City Schools spokesperson Craig Williams told Axios HCS updated its anti-vaping policy at the start of last school year, including clarification that if the vapes include THC, CBD or Delta variations, they fall under the schools' "prohibited drug infractions."