Happy Tuesday!

• With school starting in the coming weeks, we decided to take a look at back-to-school spending — and the state of recess and cellphones at school.

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Today's newsletter is 1,108 words, a 4-minute read

Families in Washington and other western states can expect to spend more than the national average on back-to-school shopping this year, with higher prices squeezing household budgets, according to a PwC survey.

Why it matters: Back-to-school shopping is one of the biggest spending seasons outside the holidays, so families may want to start preparing early, Keven Gray of Washington-based Gesa Credit Union told Axios.

By the numbers: Total K-12 back-to-school spending is projected to reach a record $43.3 billion this year, up roughly 10% from last year, according to the National Retail Federation.

• Families in the West plan to spend an average of $960 on back-to-school purchases, compared with $922 nationwide.

What's happening: Prices are higher, classroom needs have changed and kids have more say over what families buy — including requests for pricier items.

• And the spending doesn't end on the first day of school: Families expect to spend another $635 per month on recurring expenses such as meals, snacks and tutoring, according to PwC.

What they're saying: Gray, Gesa's chief retail officer, recommends starting now and spreading purchases over the next few weeks to compare prices, find promotions and avoid one large shopping bill.

Zoom in: Before heading to the store, Gray recommends families take inventory of notebooks, calculators, art supplies, clothing and other items they may already have.

• Shoes or clothes may need replacing, while a backpack or lunchbox that's still in good shape can last another year.

Be smart: Setting a spending limit for each child can help curb impulse purchases, Gray said, especially while families are still juggling summer expenses such as camps, vacations and child care.

• For bigger-ticket necessities like laptops, he recommends considering used or refurbished options.
• If using credit is necessary, Gray said families should understand the total cost and have a repayment plan in place.

The bottom line: Starting early and shopping with a plan can help keep costs in check.

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After decades of diminished recess time, a dozen states — including Washington — now require it by law.

Why it matters: Yes, recess is literally child's play. But researchers, pediatricians and parents say it's crucial for young students' physical and mental health.

By the numbers: As of December, school recess is mandated in 12 states and D.C., according to Johns Hopkins research.

Zoom in: Washington adopted a law in 2023 requiring at least 30 minutes of daily recess time for elementary school students.

• Recess sessions must be "student directed" and "held outside whenever possible," the law says.
• Time spent changing into outdoor clothing doesn't count. Neither do physical education classes.

Several other states require physical activity, but don't have a specific recess mandate.

Between the lines: Unstructured play doesn't just teach social skills, but research connects it to increased classroom motivation and behavior, better school attendance, and less stress for students.

• And more physical activity could help academic performance.

What they're saying: "Recess gives you a better feeling about school. Recess refreshes you. Recess helps you feel a little bit less cynical about what's going on," psychologist Peter Gray, author of forthcoming "Restoring Childhood," tells Axios.

• "Anyone who's ever spent even a day with a kid can recognize that if you kept them sitting all day, they'd go insane, they'd drive everybody else insane," says Hannah Thompson, a physical activity epidemiologist with UC Berkeley's Nutrition Policy Institute.
• Although schools don't tend to fight the idea of recess itself, Thompson says it can be a challenge for administrators to carve out more time for it.

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Schools in Seattle and across the U.S. are cracking down on student cellphone use, but a recent study finds the restrictions bring mixed results.

The big picture: Schools that require students to lock away their phones during class have seen phone use decline substantially, according to the study shared by the National Bureau of Economic Research in April.

• Student well-being also appears to improve the longer the rules remain in place.

Yes, but: "For academic achievement, average effects on test scores are consistently close to zero," the researchers wrote.

• And they found "little evidence" those policies affect attendance, attention in class or perceived online bullying.

Zoom in: Seattle Public Schools recently began requiring students in grades K-8 to put their phones away for the entire school day.

• High schoolers can have their phones out during passing periods and during lunch, but are restricted during class time.
• Washington state has not adopted statewide school cellphone limits.

The big picture: As of this year, roughly two-thirds of states have enacted legislation limiting student phone access, per the study.

• Nearly 5,000 schools use lockable phone pouches, according to the study.

Catch up quick: School cellphone bans gained bipartisan support over the past few years as concerns grew about worsening youth mental health and plunging test scores post-pandemic, the Washington Post reports.

• The restrictions are also popular among teachers.

The bottom line: Cellphone bans may still benefit students — even if they don't directly translate into higher test scores.

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🐶 Seattle's Gustave the Girl Dog beat 93 competitors to win an international corgi race in Lithuania, adding to her two consecutive victories at Emerald Downs. (KING 5)

⚖️ Amazon has reinstated an arbitration agreement that generally requires customers to resolve disputes individually and waives their ability to join class-action lawsuits. (Seattle Times)

🌋 A Seattle startup is betting geothermal energy from underwater volcanoes could become a new source of clean power. (GeekWire)

Melissa here, putting the finishing touches on today's newsletter from the patio at Magnuson Cafe & Brewery.

• It's a great place to sit outside near the water — and conveniently located near my oldest kid's summer camp dropoff.
• (I know my computer is filthy — don't judge! I work in random places, sometimes with multiple children crawling on me. That's partly why this patio feels like a break.)

Got any favorite local patios we should check out before summer's over? Hit reply to let us know!

👖 Melissa is deep in the back-to-school ritual of trying to figure out her kids' latest clothing size. (Each brand is different!)

💉Clarridge is getting a rabies shot (the first 2 of 5, actually).

This newsletter was edited by Geoff Ziezulewicz.