Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, along with Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, introduced the Smart Kids Not Smartphones Act: A bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing smartphone use in classrooms.

The program would bring a non-competitive, non-monetary recognition award program administered by the Department of Education for schools that enforce a policy prohibiting phone use during instructional hours, per a release.

“Smartphones in the classroom are a massive distraction from learning and socializing with other students, and feed into our kids’ addiction to technology,” said Murphy. “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.”

A study by Common Sense Media found that “97% of 11- to 17-year-olds used their phones during the school day, with a median time of 43 minutes.”

“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.”

Smart phone use has been found to harm students’ mental health and ability to learn and focus, as well as negatively impact self-image, safety and general well-being, per a release. It has also led to a bevvy of other issues like social isolation, cognitive dysfunction, smartphone addiction, academic dishonesty, and lower grades.

Here is the full breakdown of what the above legislation would do, per a release:

  • 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.

Murphy has previously introduced legislation aimed to keep kids off of social media and protect them from its harmful impact, per a release. He also co-sponsored “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, per a release.