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In the US, Los Angeles’ education board has voted to restrict student screen time in classrooms, making it the first major US school system to do so. The resolution requires staff to develop screen-time policies based on grade level and bans first-grade and younger students from using devices. It comes as the district, which serves about half a million students, sought to reduce its reliance on tablets and laptops, which was prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nick Melvoin, a board member who brought forward the resolution, said student devices were a lifeline in 2020, but that years later, it’s time that we reset them. The restrictions, which are expected to be implemented in the next school year, will ban YouTube and other video-streaming platforms on school-issued devices.
The resolution cited research indicating that children aged 8 to 11 who exceed screen-time guidelines are at higher risk for obesity and depressive symptoms and have scored lower on cognitive assessments. It follows a measure the district passed in 2024 banning the use of mobile phones and social media in classrooms.
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SEC schools ranked academically by U.S. News for 2026-27
Trey Luerssen Longhorns Wire
The SEC has never been stronger scholastically: Five universities rank among the top 100 schools in the nation for the upcoming academic year. That’s a welcome change for a conference that was once regarded as one of the worst academically.
For decades, the Big Ten and Pac-12 were the gold standard, and the ACC and Big 12 were a step below. The SEC trailed the other leagues. But with the addition of Texas A&M in 2012 and the recent additions of the University of Texas and Oklahoma, the SEC has greatly improved the conference’s scholastic standing.
Academically, Texas is one of the best colleges in the nation. It ranks highly among public universities and is considered a “Public Ivy” school, a term originated in a 1985 book that listed the best state schools in America. UT was on the original list and remains in the top 10.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian uses the academic prestige of UT Austin as a big selling point during the recruiting process. Along with the Longhorns’ success on the field, Sarkisian stresses the UT education.
“All the while that’s occurring at a top 5 public institution in the United States. … Oh, by the way, Forbes Magazine last year wrote that Texas is the new Ivy League. Name another school that’s getting compared to Harvard, Yale, and Princeton (academically) but on the flip side is getting compared to Georgia, Ohio State, and Alabama on the football field.” — Steve Sarkisian
Using the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-27 National University Rankings, here is how the 16 SEC schools stack up academically:
No. 16 in SEC: Mississippi State University – Starkville, Mississippi
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 208 (tie)
Undergraduate enrollment (fall 2024): 18,567
Four-year graduation rate: 46%
In-state tuition and fees (2025-2026): $10,604
Out-of-state tuition and fees (2025-2026): $28,736
