[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8993 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8993
To direct the Secretary of Education 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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 10, 2024
Mr. Westerman (for himself, Mr. Trone, Mr. LaTurner, and Mr. Crow)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Education 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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
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 Secretary of Education, 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 Secretary of Education, 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 shall
establish a pilot program, through which the Secretary of Education
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 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 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 2024 through 2028.
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