This bill, called the UNPLUGGED Act of 2025, would require each State educational agency to set and enforce a rule that stops students from possessing or using personal electronic devices (like mobile phones and smartwatches) in public school classrooms during school hours. States may require schools to provide secure storage (lockers, lock boxes, signal-blocking pouches, or similar). The bill allows exceptions for medical needs, students with disabilities (including IEPs and Section 504 plans), English learners, and other situations the State or local authority approves. It also lets schools adopt stricter rules and creates a grant program at the Department of Education to help states buy and run secure storage and related training or infrastructure.
The bill authorizes the Secretary of Education to establish a grant program to provide funding to State educational agencies to purchase, implement, or maintain secure storage methods and related training or infrastructure. No publicly available information.
The bill's findings state that excessive mobile phone use in class harms attention, test scores, and mental health. It cites peer-reviewed studies and commentary that link phone presence to distraction, lower academic performance, increased anxiety and depression, and problems like bullying and academic dishonesty. Supporters in the bill argue that limiting in-school phone access and providing secure storage will help classrooms be less distracted and improve learning.
No publicly available information.