Murphy, Romney Unveil Bill To Help Keep Smartphones Out Of The Classroom

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) introduced the Smart Kids Not Smartphones Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing the usage of smartphones by children in the classroom. The legislation would establish a non-competitive, non-monetary recognition award program-administered by the Department of Education (ED)-to highlight and celebrate any school that has and enforces a policy prohibiting the use of smartphones by students during instructional hours. Similarly, it gives school districts and states the opportunity for recognition if all their schools have and enforce smartphone prohibition policies.

"Smartphones in the classroom are a massive distraction from learning and socializing with other students, and feed into our kids' addiction to technology. There are plenty of schools, including in Connecticut, that have seen improved student mental health and academic outcomes after implementing policies that limit phones in the classroom. This simple bipartisan bill would recognize schools that implement smartphone bans during instructional time as well as provide transparency and give students and parents the opportunity to share input on those policies," said Murphy.

"There is no question that smartphones are a major distraction to students in the classroom," said Romney. "They also contribute to deteriorating mental health, social isolation, and cyberbullying among our youth. Our bill would encourage schools to institute policies which would prohibit the use of smartphones during class time, while still allowing for reasonable exceptions for emergencies, educational activities, and students with exceptional needs."

According to a study by Common Sense Media analyzing smartphone data of students, 97% of 11- to 17-year-olds used their phones during the school day, with a median time of 43 minutes. Smartphone use has been found to harm students' mental health, ability to learn and focus, self-image, safety, and general well-being. It also has led to social isolation, cognitive dysfunction, smartphone addiction, academic dishonesty, and lower grades.

The senators' legislation would:

• Establish a non-competitive, non-monetary recognition award program administered by ED that would give an award-such as a banner or website badge-and recognition to any school that implements and enforces a policy to prohibit the use of smartphones by students during instructional hours, while allowing exceptions for emergencies, for use in educational instruction or educational enrichment activities, and for children with disabilities.
• • If school districts and state education agencies have 100 percent buy-in from the schools in their district, they will also receive the award from ED.
• Instruct relevant federal agencies to publish guidance on smartphone use policies and enforcement mechanisms for schools to be able to use.

In May, Murphy introduced legislation to keep kids off social media and help protect them from its harmful impacts. Murphy is also a cosponsor of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), bipartisan legislation to provide young people and parents with the tools, safeguards, and transparency they need to protect against online harm to minors. Last year, Murphy wrote an op-ed for the New York Times about the negative impact that social media algorithms are having on young people.

Full text of the bill is available HERE.

###