[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outdated or duplicative reporting requirements in annual budget 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.
                                 ______