Focus on Learning Act

This legislation would push schools to limit student cellphone use during the school day and study how that affects learning and health. It directs the Surgeon General to complete a nationwide study within two years on how mobile devices in K–12 schools impact learning, grades, mental health, classroom teaching, and behavior, and to publish the results. It also creates a pilot grant program for school districts to set up phone‑free school environments by buying secure containers or lockers to store students’ personal devices during school hours. Schools must still have a way for staff to communicate with one another and with emergency responders, and they must provide a clear way for students to contact parents when needed.

“Mobile device” means a personal phone or other portable device used for calls, texts, games, or video; school‑issued devices are not included. “School hours” include regular class time, lunch, free periods on school grounds, and time between classes. A “phone‑free” school means students’ devices are kept in a secure container controlled by school administrators.

• Who is affected: Students, parents, teachers, and K–12 school districts.
• What changes: A federal study on phones in schools and grants to help schools store student devices and go phone‑free, with limited exceptions for health needs, students with disabilities, and English learners using translation tools. Parents must be notified at least 30 days before a district applies for a grant and again if a grant is awarded.
• When: The study is due within two years of enactment; grants are authorized at up to $5 million total for fiscal years 2025–2029, with up to 2% for administration and data collection.