February 12, 2025
Mr. Westerman (for himself, Mr. Stauber, Ms. Morrison, and Mr. Crow) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To direct the Surgeon General to conduct a study regarding the use of mobile devices in elementary and secondary schools, and to establish a pilot program of awarding grants to enable certain schools to create a school environment free of mobile devices.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Focus on Learning Act
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) ESEA terms
The terms child with a disability, elementary school, English learner, local educational agency, and secondary school have the meaning given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(2) Mobile device
The term mobile device means any personal mobile telephone or other portable electronic communication device with which a user engages in a call or writes or sends a message or any device in which the user plays a game or watches a video, except that such term does not include school-issued devices.
(3) School environment free of mobile devices
The term school environment free of mobile devices means an elementary school or secondary school in which mobile devices of students are kept in a secure container that is controlled by a school administrator.
(4) School hours
The term school hours means regular school hours for instruction, including lunch periods, free periods on school grounds, and time between classroom instruction.
Sec. 3. Study
(a) In general
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Surgeon General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall complete a study regarding the use of mobile devices in elementary schools and secondary schools nationwide, including—
(1)
the impact of such use on—
(A)
student learning and academic achievement;
(B)
student educational outcomes and engagement;
(C)
student mental health;
(D)
classroom instruction; and
(E)
school climate and student behavior; and
(2)
an analysis of data collected from participating schools in the pilot program under section 4.
(b) Report
The Surgeon General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall submit a report to Congress containing the results of the study conducted under subsection (a), and shall make such report publicly available.
Sec. 4. Pilot program
(a) Program established
The Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall establish a pilot program, through which the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall award grants to local educational agencies to enable participating schools served by such agencies (referred to in this section as participating schools
) to purchase secure containers and install lockers in order to create a school environment free of mobile devices.
(b) Application
A local educational agency desiring to participate in the program under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including—
(1)
an assurance that such local educational agency will identify and select participating schools in a manner that engages the students, parents, educators, principal, school leaders, and specialized instructional support personnel, of such schools;
(2)
an assurance that each participating school will have a communication system (which may be mobile devices) allowing teachers, administrators, and staff to communicate with each other and with local emergency responders;
(3)
an assurance that each participating school will have a clear process for students to be able to contact their parents;
(4)
the policy of each participating school on mobile device use during school hours as of the date of the application; and
(5)
a description of what each participating school's new policy on mobile device use during school hours will be upon beginning participation in the pilot program under this section.
(c) Selection
The Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall select local educational agency applicants for participation in the pilot program based on the Secretary of Education's determination that the applicant’s participation will likely yield helpful information relevant to testing a school environment free of mobile devices.
(d) Exemptions
Participating schools may, while maintaining a school environment free of mobile devices, allow exemptions such that mobile devices may be used during school hours—
(1)
to monitor or treat health conditions;
(2)
by students who are children with disabilities; and
(3)
by students who are English learners for translation purposes.
(e) Parental notification
Each local educational agency that applies for participation in the pilot program under this section shall—
(1)
notify parents of students enrolled in elementary schools and secondary schools that are served by the agency and that may become participating schools—
(A)
not less than 30 days before submitting an application under this section; and
(B)
upon receipt of a grant award under this section; and
(2)
solicit feedback from such parents before applying for the grant about the local educational agency's desire to implement a school environment free of mobile devices.
(f) Administrative expenses
The Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services may use not more than 2 percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section for administrative expenses, data collection, and carrying out the study required under section 3.
(g) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $5,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.