UNPLUGGED Schools Grant Act of 2026

enforcing policies or procedures regarding student possession or use of personal electronic devices during school hours, on school grounds, or during school activities that is more restrictive than a personal electronic device policy described in subsection (a). ``SEC. 4703. APPLICATION. ``To be eligible to receive a grant under this part, a State educational agency shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including-- ``(1) a certification that the State educational agency has in effect a personal electronic device policy that satisfies the requirements described in section 4702(a); and ``(2) a certification that the State educational agency permits public elementary schools and public secondary schools and local educational agencies served by the State educational agency to develop policies and procedures that enable-- ``(A) parents to notify students through school personnel about changes in pick-up times and other logistical issues; and ``(B) school personnel to communicate with parents and with local emergency responders regarding time- sensitive matters. ``SEC. 4704. USE OF FUNDS. ``A State educational agency that receives a grant under this part shall use such grant to-- ``(1) develop and implement procedures to enforce a personal electronic device policy described in section 4702(a); and ``(2) acquire secure storage methods for use at public elementary schools and public secondary schools for safely storing personal electronic devices in accordance with a personal electronic device policy described in section 4702(a). ``SEC. 4705. ALLOCATIONS TO STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES. ``(a) In General.--From the total amount appropriated under section 4707 for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each State educational agency that has an approved application for a grant under this part an amount that bears the same relationship to the total amount as the amount that the State of such State educational agency received under subpart 2 of part A of title I for the preceding fiscal year bears to the amount all States received under that subpart for the preceding fiscal year. ``(b) Small State Minimum.--No State educational agency receiving an allotment under this paragraph shall receive less than one-half of 1 percent of the total amount allotted under this paragraph. ``(c) Reallotment of Unused Funds.--If a State educational agency does not receive an allotment under this part for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reallot the amount of the allotment that such State educational agency would have received to the remaining State educational agencies in accordance with this part. ``SEC. 4706. DEFINITIONS. ``In this part: ``(1) Individualized education program.--The term `individualized education program' has the meaning given such term in section 602(14) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401(14)). ``(2) Mobile phone.--The term `mobile phone' means any handheld communication device with cellular, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth capability, including smartphones and similar devices. ``(3) Personal electronic device.-- ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term `personal electronic device', when used with respect to a device possessed or used by a student, includes a mobile phone, smartwatch, laptop, tablet, and other handheld or wearable device with communication, internet, or multimedia capabilities. ``(B) Exception.--The term `personal electronic device' does not include a laptop or tablet that-- ``(i) a student is authorized by the school of the student to use during school hours; ``(ii) is used by such student only for instructional purposes; and ``(iii) is restricted from accessing social media platforms, personal email, personal messaging applications, texting services, and other non-academic applications during school hours. ``(4) School hours.--The term `school hours' means the period from the start of the instructional day (as defined by the State educational agency) until the end of the instructional day. ``(5) Secure storage methods.--The term `secure storage methods' means storage solutions that are designed to keep personal electronic devices safely and securely stored and to prevent students from accessing such devices during school hours without permission, including-- ``(A) lockable lockers; ``(B) secure lock boxes; ``(C) magnetic pouches or other signal-blocking storage devices; and ``(D) other storage solutions as determined appropriate by the State educational agency. ``SEC. 4707. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. ``To carry out this part, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary.''. (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 4644 the following new items: ``Part G--UNPLUGGED Schools Grants ``Sec. 4701. Grant program authorized. ``Sec. 4702. Eligibility. ``Sec. 4703. Application. ``Sec. 4704. Use of funds. ``Sec. 4705. Allocations to State educational agencies. ``Sec. 4706. Definitions. ``Sec. 4707. Authorization of appropriations.''. <all>