[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 24, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5404-S5405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 3090. Mr. COTTON (for himself and Mr. Kaine) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2073, to amend
title 31, United States Code, to require agencies to include a list of
outdated or duplicative reporting requirements in annual budget
justifications, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ____. FOCUS ON LEARNING ACT.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Focus
on Learning Act''.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) ESEA terms.--The terms ``child with a disability'',
``elementary school'', ``English learner'', ``local
educational agency'', and ``secondary school'' have the
meaning given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(2) Mobile device.--The term ``mobile device'' means any
personal mobile telephone or other portable electronic
communication device with which a user engages in a call or
writes or sends a message or any device in which the user
plays a game or watches a video, except that such term does
not include school-issued devices.
(3) School environment free of mobile devices.--The term
``school environment free of mobile devices'' means an
elementary school or secondary school in which mobile devices
of students are kept in a secure container that is controlled
by a school administrator.
(4) School hours.--The term ``school hours'' means regular
school hours for instruction, including lunch periods, free
periods on school grounds, and time between classroom
instruction.
(c) Study.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Education, in
consultation
[[Page S5405]]
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall
complete a study regarding the use of mobile devices in
elementary schools and secondary schools nationwide,
including--
(A) the impact of such use on--
(i) student learning and academic achievement;
(ii) student educational outcomes and engagement;
(iii) student mental health;
(iv) classroom instruction; and
(v) school climate and student behavior; and
(B) an analysis of data collected from participating
schools in the pilot program under subsection (d).
(2) Report.--The Secretary of Education, in consultation
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall submit
a report to Congress containing the results of the study
conducted under paragraph (1), and shall make such report
publicly available.
(d) Pilot Program.--
(1) Program established.--The Secretary of Education shall
establish a pilot program, through which the Secretary of
Education shall award grants to local educational agencies to
enable participating schools served by such agencies
(referred to in this section as ``participating schools'') to
purchase secure containers and install lockers in order to
create a school environment free of mobile devices.
(2) Application.--A local educational agency desiring to
participate in the program under this subsection shall submit
an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Secretary may
reasonably require, including--
(A) an assurance that such local educational agency will
identify and select participating schools in a manner that
engages the students, parents, educators, principal, school
leaders, and specialized instructional support personnel, of
such schools;
(B) an assurance that each participating school will have a
communication system (which may be mobile devices) allowing
teachers, administrators, and staff to communicate with each
other and with local emergency responders;
(C) an assurance that each participating school will have a
clear process for students to be able to contact their
parents;
(D) the policy of each participating school on mobile
device use during school hours as of the date of the
application; and
(E) a description of what each participating school's new
policy on mobile device use during school hours will be upon
beginning participation in the pilot program under this
subsection.
(3) Selection.--The Secretary of Education shall select
local educational agency applicants for participation in the
pilot program based on the Secretary of Education's
determination that the applicant's participation will likely
yield helpful information relevant to testing a school
environment free of mobile devices.
(4) Exemptions.--Participating schools may, while
maintaining a school environment free of mobile devices,
allow exemptions such that mobile devices may be used during
school hours--
(A) to monitor or treat health conditions;
(B) by students who are children with disabilities; and
(C) by students who are English learners for translation
purposes.
(5) Parental notification.--Each local educational agency
that applies for participation in the pilot program under
this subsection shall--
(A) notify parents of students enrolled in elementary
schools and secondary schools that are served by the agency
and that may become participating schools--
(i) not less than 30 days before submitting an application
under this section; and
(ii) upon receipt of a grant award under this section; and
(B) solicit feedback from such parents before applying for
the grant about the local educational agency's desire to
implement a school environment free of mobile devices.
(6) Administrative expenses.--The Secretary of Education
may use not more than 2 percent of the amounts made available
to carry out this subsection for administrative expenses,
data collection, and carrying out the study required under
subsection (c).
(7) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, $5,000,000
for the period of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
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