SenateS. 5620119th Congress
UNPLUGGED Schools Grant Act of 2026
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5620 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5620
To amend title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
to establish the UNPLUGGED Schools Grant Program, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 30, 2026
Mr. Kelly (for himself and Mr. Cotton) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
to establish the UNPLUGGED Schools Grant Program, and for other
purposes.
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 ``Utilize No Phones in Learning to
Unleash Growth in Grades and Educate Distraction-free Schools Grant Act
of 2026'' or the ``UNPLUGGED Schools Grant Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. UNPLUGGED SCHOOLS GRANTS.
(a) In General.--Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``PART G--UNPLUGGED SCHOOLS GRANTS
``SEC. 4701. GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
``The Secretary shall establish a grant program to be known as the
`Utilize No Phones in Learning to Unleash Growth in Grades and Educate
Distraction-free Schools Grant Program' or the `UNPLUGGED Schools Grant
Program' to award grants to State educational agencies to support
public elementary schools and public secondary schools with
implementing a personal electronic device policy described in section
4702(a).
``SEC. 4702. ELIGIBILITY.
``(a) Personal Electronic Device Policy Required.--To be eligible
to receive a grant under this part, a State educational agency shall be
required to have in effect a policy, designed in coordination with each
local educational agency served by the State educational agency and in
consultation with educators, parents, and students, that applies to
each public elementary school and public secondary school served by
each such local educational agency that prohibits student possession or
use of personal electronic devices in schools during school hours. Such
policy--
``(1) shall permit exceptions--
``(A) for students with health conditions that
require the use of a mobile phone or other personal
electronic device as part of a treatment or monitoring
plan, as certified by a licensed healthcare provider;
and
``(B) for students with disabilities or special
needs for whom access to a mobile phone or other
personal electronic device is--
``(i) documented as necessary in an
individualized education program; or
``(ii) included as part of services or
accommodations provided to the student pursuant
to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) (commonly referred to as a
`Section 504 plan'); and
``(2) may permit exceptions--
``(A) on an individualized basis, for students--
``(i) who are English learners;
``(ii) who have a demonstrated need for a
personal electronic device to facilitate
instruction; and
``(iii) who acquire documentation in
support of clauses (i) and (ii) in accordance
with procedures established by the State
educational agency; and
``(B) for additional students as determined
appropriate by State educational agencies.
``(b) Personal Electronic Device Policy Development.--The
Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, shall make available, upon request from a State educational
agency, subject matter experts to provide technical assistance in the
development of a personal electronic device policy described in
subsection (a).
``(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this part shall be
construed as preempting or otherwise preventing a State, State
educational agency, local educational agency, or school from enacting
or 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.''.
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