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A study shows parents are increasingly at odds with school policy

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• A new national survey finds that nine in 10 parents want their children to have access to a phone during the school day, even as more than 35 states have adopted or proposed restrictions on student cellphone use.

• Parents overwhelmingly cite school safety and the ability to reach their children during emergencies as their top concern, creating tension with policies designed to reduce classroom distractions.

• The findings highlight a growing divide between educators seeking phone-free classrooms and parents who view smartphones as an essential safety tool.

As states across the country continue to tighten restrictions on student cellphone use, a new survey suggests most parents are reluctant to give up one feature they value most: the ability to reach their children during the school day.

According to a national survey released by child safety technology company Bark Technologies, 90% of parents believe children should have access to a phone while at school, even though more than 35 states have enacted or are considering policies that limit or ban cellphone use during school hours.

The survey illustrates the challenge facing school districts as they attempt to balance improved classroom focus with parents' growing concerns about school safety.

Safety outweighs convenience

Parents' concerns appear to be driven less by a desire for constant communication than by fears of emergencies. School shootings, lockdowns, and other safety incidents have heightened anxiety, making many parents uncomfortable with policies that prevent students from contacting family members directly.

The survey found that parents whose children attend schools with cellphone bans report significantly higher levels of anxiety about being unable to communicate with their children during the school day.

The findings come as lawmakers across the country have embraced cellphone restrictions as a way to reduce distractions, improve academic performance, and curb cyberbullying. Many schools now require students to store phones in lockers, sealed pouches, or designated storage areas until the end of the school day.

A growing national movement

The push for phone-free schools has accelerated over the past two years. Supporters argue that smartphones interfere with learning, contribute to mental health issues, and reduce face-to-face interaction among students. More than 35 states have adopted some form of statewide cellphone restriction or guidance for schools.

Research has shown that strict school phone policies substantially reduce classroom phone use, though evidence that they immediately improve academic achievement or student behavior has been mixed.

The survey suggests many parents are not necessarily opposed to limiting phone use during instruction but want children to retain access when needed, particularly during emergencies.

That may leave school districts searching for compromise solutions, such as allowing students to keep phones secured in locked pouches that can be opened after school or during an emergency, rather than requiring devices to be left at home altogether.

The CDC is searching for the source of the contamination that has sickened hundreds

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Federal investigators are reportedly focusing on Taco Bell as they work to identify the source of a multistate Cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands of people.

• The Washington Post reports that some people who became ill had eaten at Taco Bell, though investigators stress the outbreak extends beyond the restaurant chain and no specific supplier has been identified.

• Michigan health officials now say lettuce and salad greens are the leading suspected source, while Taco Bell has already removed several fresh ingredients from some restaurants as a precaution.

Federal and state health officials are increasingly focusing on Taco Bell as they investigate one of the nation's largest outbreaks of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness linked to contaminated fresh produce, according to a report by The Washington Post.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not concluded that Taco Bell is responsible for the outbreak. Instead, investigators are examining whether restaurants in the chain may have received contaminated produce from a common supplier. Officials also caution that the outbreak clearly extends beyond Taco Bell because many people who became ill reported never eating at the restaurant.

The outbreak has sickened thousands of people in more than 30 states and has hospitalized more than 80, making it one of the largest Cyclospora outbreaks in recent U.S. history.

According to The Washington Post, federal and state investigators are reviewing interviews with patients, restaurant visits and food purchasing records to determine whether Taco Bell locations shared contaminated ingredients with other restaurants or retailers. Some people who became ill reported eating at Taco Bell before developing symptoms, while others did not.

Lettuce emerges as leading suspect

On Monday, Michigan health officials announced that interviews with more than 1,000 patients point to lettuce or salad greens as the most likely source of the outbreak, although they emphasized that other foods have not been ruled out. Michigan has recorded the largest number of illnesses, with more than 2,600 confirmed cases.

"While the investigation is ongoing, current results point to lettuce or salad greens as a potential source for this outbreak," the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said.

Cyclospora infections have historically been linked to fresh produce, including cilantro, basil, raspberries, salad mixes and snow peas. Because symptoms typically appear several days to two weeks after exposure, tracing the source is especially difficult. Patients often struggle to remember exactly what they ate, and many cases are never diagnosed because specialized laboratory testing is required.

Taco Bell acted before a source was confirmed

Last week, some Taco Bell restaurants, particularly in the Detroit area, posted notices informing customers they were temporarily unable to serve lettuce, cilantro onions, pico de gallo and guacamole because of what the notices described as a nationwide recall.

One person familiar with the investigation told The Washington Post that the company's decision to voluntarily remove the ingredients was an appropriate precaution while investigators continue searching for the source.

The newspaper reported that Taco Bell has not publicly explained its decision or responded to multiple requests for comment.

Symptoms can last for weeks

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the small intestine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it most commonly causes watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite and weight loss. Some patients experience frequent "explosive" diarrhea, and untreated illness can persist for weeks or even longer.

The parasite spreads through food or water contaminated with human waste and is not generally transmitted directly from person to person. Antibiotics are available to treat the infection.

Health officials continue to urge consumers to wash fresh produce thoroughly, although washing alone may not completely eliminate the parasite. Investigators are still working to identify the specific grower, distributor or supplier responsible for the contaminated produce.

Smart shopping strategies that can slash your back-to-school bill

• Buy less now. Shop your home first, purchase only first-week essentials, and wait for clearance on the rest.

• Skip the hype. Avoid trendy back-to-school displays and choose generic supplies whenever possible.

• Double up on savings. Use discounted gift cards, compare prices in-store, and stock up during post-season clearance.

Back-to-school shopping has quietly become one of the biggest annual expenses for American families. Between clothing, shoes, backpacks, electronics, dorm supplies, and classroom lists that seem to grow every year, it's easy to spend hundreds (or even thousands) before the first bell rings.

The good news? Most shoppers overpay not because prices are too high, but because they shop at the wrong time, buy the wrong products, or fall for marketing designed to encourage bigger purchases.

A smarter strategy can dramatically reduce what you spend without sending your child back to school with less.

Here are some of the most effective and often overlooked ways to keep more money in your pocket this back-to-school season.

1. Don't treat the school supply list like a deadline

Many parents feel pressure to buy every item before the first day of school.

In reality, many teachers don't use every listed supply immediately. Some items aren't needed for weeks, while others may never be used at all.

Instead of buying everything at once, prioritize the essentials and wait to purchase specialty items until they're actually needed. You'll avoid buying supplies that sit unopened all year and can take advantage of post-season clearance sales.

2. Shop your house before you shop the store

Many families already own more school supplies than they realize, and most of the stuff still has plenty of life left in it.

Spend 30 minutes and gather things like the following:

• Unused notebooks

• Half-full packs of paper

• Pens and pencils

• Binders

• Folders

• Calculators

• Lunch containers

• Water bottles

• Headphones

• Art supplies

Kids often enjoy picking out new items, but mixing a few new purchases with perfectly usable supplies from home can cut your shopping bill substantially.

3. Let the school choose the trends (not your budget)

Retailers know exactly what students want each year. Must-have things like character backpacks, limited-edition water bottles, designer lunch bags, and brand-name sneakers often command premium prices in July and August.

If your child wants some of this trendy gear, consider compromising with them. Tell them youll splurge on one signature item and then try to maximize your savings on everything else. Most of their classmates won't remember where someone's notebook came from, but your budget absolutely will.

Pro tip: Create a "Three-Pile" shopping system. Before shopping, divide every item you need into three categories:

• Need Today: Required for the first week of school

• Can Wait: Needed later in the semester

• Nice to Have: Optional upgrades

Most families discover nearly a third of their list can safely wait, giving them time to find better clearance deals later.

4. Wait on clothing if you can

Many parents assume August is the best month to buy school clothes. In actuality, it's often one of the worst.

Retailers know how to play the game and they know that demand is always the highest right before school starts. For shoppers, this means decent discounts and coupons can be surprisingly hard to find.

For this reason, if your child's wardrobe allows, buy only enough clothing to get them started on the new school year. Then shop Labor Day and early fall clearance events when retailers begin transitioning to cooler-weather inventory and easily save 30-50%.

5. Use gift cards as a discount

One of the easiest ways to save is before you even enter the store.

Warehouse clubs, grocery stores, and online gift card marketplaces frequently sell retailer gift cards below face value.

Buying a $100 gift card for only $80 instantly creates a 20% discount which often trumps whatever back-to-school sale a store might be running.

The savings stack if you're also using coupons, rewards programs, or cash-back credit cards.

6. Skip the 'back-to-school' aisle when possible

Retailers are experts at grouping all of their high-margin items together.

Instead of shopping themed displays, try this:

• Buy plain composition notebooks instead of licensed versions

• Purchase generic folders

• Choose standard lunch containers over branded sets

• Compare office supply aisles to school supply aisles

Youll often find that nearly identical products will cost less simply because they aren't marketed toward students.

Pro tip: Save all your receipts in one place. Without fail backpacks will rip, zippers will fail, and electronics will stop working. Keep every back-to-school receipt in a single envelope, or better yet, scan them into a folder on your phone.

Many of these products have warranties or extended return windows, so by having quick access to your proof of purchase, it can save you from paying to replace an item that should have been covered.

7. Think beyond August

Some of the best school supply prices happen every year after most shoppers have finished their shopping.

Retailers will notoriously slash prices to clear out seasonal inventory, especially on the following:

• Notebooks

• Pens

• Binders

• Pencil boxes

• Lunch bags

• Backpacks

If your child will need replacements later in the year, buying extras during clearance season can save money for months to come. Or better yet, buy extra for next year at a major discount and store them until back-to-school season rolls around.

More shoppers are buying spooky dcor, candy and costumes months before fall and retailers are leaning into the trend

• Summerween is bringing Halloween shopping into the middle of summer, with most consumers planning to buy spooky dcor, candy, and costumes before September.

• Many shoppers are getting a head start because they love the fall aesthetic, want the best selection, or are concerned prices could rise closer to Halloween.

• Experts say shopping early can help you snag limited-edition items, but comparing prices, using promo codes and stacking cash-back offers can help you save the most money.

Halloween used to kick off when the leaves started changing. Now, for many shoppers, the spooky season begins long before Labor Day.

A growing trend known as "Summerween" is inspiring consumers to stock up on Halloween dcor, candy, and costumes in the middle of summer, and retailers are responding by putting seasonal merchandise on shelves earlier than ever.

According to new research from RetailMeNot, most consumers plan to start shopping for fall and Halloween before September, driven by a love of the season, the desire for the best selection, and hopes of avoiding higher prices later.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with RetailMeNots Retail Insights Expert Stephanie Carls who explained that the trend reflects a growing appetite to extend the Halloween season and it's changing the way retailers approach one of the year's biggest shopping events.

What is summerween?

The idea of Summerween originated from the Disney animated series Gravity Falls, where the fictional town celebrates "Summerween" on June 22 with costumes, trick-or-treating, and monster-themed festivities.

While it started as a TV concept, the name has since been embraced by consumers and retailers, who now use it to describe the growing trend of shopping for and celebrating Halloween months before the traditional fall season begins.

Shoppers are craving fall

While were still months away from crisp air and pumpkin flavored treats, many shoppers are ready for fall now. According to RetailMeNots survey, 70% of consumers plan to shop for fall or Halloween items before September.

Consumers decided this season mattered before retailers ever put up a display, Carls said.

What drives this decision to shop for Halloween so early?

The leading factors were about how the season feels, not what it costs or whether it was in stock, Carls said. Seventeen percent of consumers said they shop early because they enjoy the fall and Halloween aesthetic, and 16% said they want the cozy atmosphere that comes with the season. People are shopping early because they want the feeling of fall now, and that feeling doesnt check a calendar.

Are there better deals now?

The survey found that 13% of shoppers are worried that prices will be higher by the time fall rolls around and shopping now will save them some money later.

Its how a lot of consumers are feeling right now, Carls said. Most Halloween merchandise, including costumes, decor, and candy, relies on components made overseas, and rising import costs have been widely reported this year.

Shoppers are looking at that broader trend and seeing higher prices as a real possibility for their own Halloween budget. Comparing prices early and watching for promotions still matters, especially in a year where cost is on peoples minds.

Keep an eye out for deals

Carls said theres no hard and fast rule that the best Halloween deals are out on store shelves now.

Shopping early gets you selection, she said. It doesnt always get you the lowest price, though stacking promo codes and cash back offers can still bring the cost down even if you buy now. If theres one specific item youd be upset to miss, buy it now. If youd be just as happy with any version of it, wait and compare.

More of Carls money-saving tips:

• Compare prices across retailers before you buy anything, and see what you can stack on top of that, such as promo codes and cash back, instead of stopping at the sticker price.

• Watch for early promotions, since theyre often better than what shows up closer to October.

• Save your urgency for the things that are really limited, because candy and basic decor arent going anywhere, and theres no reason to treat them like they are.