<p>Balloons, photo-ops and enthusiastic staffers&nbsp;welcomed students at Steele Elementary School in Baldwin to their first day of school, one of 49 Long Island districts returning on Wednesday. NewsdayTV&#39;s Virginia Huie reports.</p>


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More than three dozen districts already opened on Monday and Tuesday; the remainder will start the school year either Thursday or next week.

Students in 49 LI districts head back to school today

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Students in 49 of Long Island's 123 public school districts returned to class on Wednesday. Nearly 40 other districts returned on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Photos: Students head back to school in many LI districts

The students were named winners of PSEG Long Island's seventh annual "I Am EM-Powered" contest.

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Two months into the state's "bell-to-bell" ban on electronic devices in schools, some districts are reporting positive changes in the classroom. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

'Students are much more talkative to one another'

NewsdayTV's Jasmine Anderson and Newsday education reporter Dandan Zou talk to Long Island school administrators about how the school cellphone ban is going so far.

'Kids are outside. They're playing. They're laughing together.'

Former Holy Trinity lineman Lance Swift spoke with Newsday high school sports reporter Jared Valluzzi after the Titans suspended their football program.

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Nick Cannon, host of the Wild 'N Out Live show at Barclays Center, visited Roosevelt High School on Friday.

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12-year-old Cesar Albarracin Guncay, a 6th grader in Sag Harbor, died during a rafting field trip in the Poconos after the raft overturned in the river.

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NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland speaks to actor Gary Sinise about the Wantagh Union Free School District partnering with his foundation to raise money for field trips to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, as well as a commemorative 9/11 statue in front of Wantagh High School.

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Sara Lopez Garcia recorded an address to her class from her native Colombia. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

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Chaminade twins John and Joseph Gomes were named valedictorian and salutatorian, a first for the all-boys Catholic school in Mineloa.

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Jesse Findling, of Massapequa Park, made a stop at his alma mater on Monday. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

'He just followed his dream'

A federal judge approved an agreement this week to phase out the Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, Plan. The move could affect millions of borrowers. Newsday's experts break it down.

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NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa heads to Mastic Seafood to slice some fish and shuck some oysters on this week's LI Works.

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The country superstar performed at Nassau Coliseum and helped get books to Wyandanch kids. Newsday film critic Rafer Guzmán has more.

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It started out as "take a book, leave a book." Now these little libraries have Instagram accounts and mobile apps and are part of a growing, vibrant community. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn has the story.

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The Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park in Manorville has a new alligator enclosure to go along with their existing reptile experiences. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

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A Newsday data analysis shows that ICE agents detained just 72 immigrants in Nassau and Suffolk counties in July, down from 322 in January. Newsday data reporter Anastasia Valeeva explains.

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Residents in LI's more than 120 school districts weighed in on board candidates, budgets and propositions. See how your district voted. For additional information, read our article here.

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See the latest news from Long Island school districts, including local rankings, school board developments, safety updates and more.

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