Bills · S 404
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 404Educational facilities and institutionsAcademic performance and assessments
Focus on Learning Act
INTRO FEB 5· LAST ACTION FEB 5
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
4BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it addresses a widespread concern about the role of technology, specifically personal mobile devices, in children's education and development. Many parents, educators, and health experts have raised questions about how constant access to phones might be impacting student focus, academic performance, mental health, and social interactions in schools.
If this bill becomes law, it would initiate a formal federal study to gather concrete data on these impacts, which could inform future policy decisions at local, state, and national levels. The pilot program offers a practical way for some schools to experiment with limiting mobile device use and provides funding to help them do so. If successful, it could lead to widespread changes in school policies regarding phone use, potentially creating more focused learning environments and improving student well-being. If it doesn't pass, schools and communities will continue to address these issues individually without a centralized study or federal support for implementing device-free policies.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Directs the Surgeon General to conduct a study on the impact of mobile device use in K-12 schools.
This aims to provide a comprehensive, national understanding of how personal phones affect student learning, mental health, and school environments.
PROVISION 02
Establishes a pilot program for the Department of Education to award grants to schools to create environments free of student mobile devices during school hours.
This provides financial support for schools interested in implementing policies to restrict phone use and gather data on the effectiveness of such environments.
PROVISION 03
Defines a "school environment free of mobile devices" as one where students' personal mobile devices are kept in secure, school-controlled containers.
This clarifies what the pilot program aims to achieve and ensures a consistent approach across participating schools.
PROVISION 04
Allows specific exemptions for mobile device use during school hours, including for health conditions, students with disabilities, and English learners for translation.
These exemptions ensure that necessary uses of mobile technology for specific student needs are preserved, addressing potential concerns about accessibility.
PROVISION 05
Requires participating school districts to notify parents and solicit their feedback before applying for and upon receiving a grant.
This ensures parental involvement and communication regarding significant changes to school mobile device policies.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 4
R· Arkansas
YRS IN OFFICE
13
BILLS LED
97
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 100%
DEM 2 REP 2 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSFEB 5
Introduced in Senate
FEB 5
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 404
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedFeb 5, 2025
Last actionFeb 5, 2025
READER REACTIONS
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 5, 2025
Senate BillS 404Educational facilities and institutionsAcademic performance and assessments
Focus on Learning Act
INTRODUCED FEB 5, 2025· LAST ACTION FEB 5, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
5 min
COSPONSORS
4
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
