WASHINGTON— U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) today 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.
“There is no question that smartphones are a major distraction to students in the classroom,” Senator Romney said. “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.”
“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 Senator Murphy.
The Smart Kids Not Smartphones Act 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.
Background:
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.
In December, Senator Romney’s measures aimed at better understanding the impact of smartphones in the classroom were unanimously approved by the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee as a part of Advancing Research in Education Act (AREA). Romney’s efforts coincide with efforts by Utah Governor Spencer Cox to reduce the harmful effects of social media on children and halt cellphone use during class time. Next week, the Senate is expected to vote on final passage 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. Romney is a sponsor of KOSA.
Text of the Smart Kids Not Smartphones Act can be found here.