Bill > HR8993

This bill, the "Focus on Learning Act," aims to address the impact of mobile device use in elementary and secondary schools. It directs the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to conduct a study on the effects of mobile device use on student learning, academic achievement, mental health, classroom instruction, and school climate. The bill also establishes a pilot program that provides grants to local educational agencies to enable participating schools to create a "school environment free of mobile devices" by purchasing secure containers and installing lockers. The pilot program allows for some exemptions, such as for students with health conditions, disabilities, or who are English learners. The bill authorizes $5 million in funding for the pilot program over the fiscal years 2024 to 2028.