In 2022, 95% of teens reported having access to a smartphone, a more than 20 percentage point increase from 2014–15 (73%). According to the National Education Association (NEA), these devices are taking a toll on students’ mental health as well as their ability to focus in class. Consequently, 15 states have already passed laws or enacted policies that ban or restrict the use of cell phones in schools statewide and Missouri lawmakers are considering following suit. When surveyed last Fall (2024), a large majority of Missouri voters reported support for prohibiting high school students from accessing their cell phones both during regular school hours (72%) and during class (79%).

Free and Reduced-Price Lunch (FRL) can be a bit of a buzzword in the education space. In today’s blog post, we dispel common misconceptions about the program, and answer some FAQs.