On November 9, 2023, Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, and Tim Kaine, D-Virginia introduced a bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate that proposes a study led by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) on the effects that cell phone use in K-12 classrooms has on students’ mental health and academic performance.
The study would include analysis of a pilot program created through legislation that would provide participating schools with secure containers to store students’ phones during school hours. The pilot program would also make exceptions for students with health conditions or disabilities, and non-English speakers.
Text of the legislation may be found here.