Supporting Focus in Schools Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5636 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5636

To establish a grant program to support restricting the use of cellular 
phones and other personal electronic devices at eligible schools during 
                          instructional time.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 30, 2026

  Mr. Gallego introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To establish a grant program to support restricting the use of cellular 
phones and other personal electronic devices at eligible schools during 
                          instructional time.

    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 ``Supporting Focus in Schools Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) ESEA terms.--The ``elementary school'' and ``secondary 
        school'' have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (2) Eligible school.--The term ``eligible school'' means an 
        elementary school or secondary school that--
                    (A) receives funds under part A of title I of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6311 et seq.); and
                    (B) has a personal electronic device policy as 
                described in section 3(b).
            (3) Personal electronic device.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                term ``personal electronic device'', when used with 
                respect to a device possessed or used by a student, 
                includes a laptop or desktop computer, a tablet, a 
                smartphone, smartwatch, or other cellular phone, or 
                another similar device.
                    (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) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.

SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a grant program 
through which the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, 
to eligible schools to enable those eligible schools to carry out 
activities described in subsection (d) that support a school ban on 
personal electronic devices in accordance with a policy described in 
subsection (c).
    (b) Application.--An eligible school desiring to receive a grant 
under this Act shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may reasonably require, including the eligible school's personal 
electronic device policy described in subsection (c).
    (c) Personal Electronic Device Policy Required.--To be eligible to 
receive a grant under this Act, an eligible school shall be required to 
have in effect a policy that prohibits student use of personal 
electronic devices in the school during school instruction hours. Such 
policy shall permit exceptions, as approved by a school administrator--
            (1) 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;
            (2) for students with disabilities or special needs for 
        whom access to a mobile phone or other personal electronic 
        device is--
                    (A) documented as necessary in an individualized 
                education program; or
                    (B) 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
            (3) for an emergency.
    (d) Uses of Funds.--An eligible school that receives a grant under 
this Act shall use grant funds to carry out 1 or more of the following 
activities:
            (1) Purchase equipment that will support the personal 
        electronic device policy of the school, such as phone lockers, 
        phone pouches, or similar storage devices or equipment.
            (2) Provide professional development and training to 
        teachers and school staff about how to support the school's 
        personal electronic device policy.

SEC. 4. REPORTING.

    Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant under this Act, an 
eligible school shall submit a report to the Secretary that contains 
information about the effect of the activities carried out using grant 
funds under this Act, including any effect on academic outcomes at the 
eligible school.
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